Alaska Airlines has announced the start date of one of its most anticipated new international routes.
The Seattle-based airline revealed Tuesday that its New direct service from the Pacific Northwest to London will launch on May 21, 2026, just before Memorial Day weekend and the unofficial start of the summer travel season.
These new flights to London Heathrow Airport (LHR) will come just weeks after Alaska Airlines debuts on the continent with service to Rome. which will begin at the end of April.
When to go: These are the best times to buy an international flight
Heathrow flights would go on sale immediately on Tuesday. That includes Atmos Rewards redemptions for customers hoping to book a flight to Europe for next summer with points.
Alaska Airlines’ international push
Adding London (and Rome, among other long-haul international destinations) is a major change for Alaska Airlines.
Historically, the airline operated only domestic and short-haul international flights with its fleet of Boeing 737 and regional aircraft.
But after acquiring Hawaiian Airlines in 2024, Alaska gained access to a new fleet of Boeing 787 Dreamliners that Hawaiian had ordered before the merger..
Alaska will fly one of those new 787-9s with the new international livery that the airline will introduce in the new year on its route to London.
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The planes feature 34 lie-flat business class suites with sliding privacy doors, the same sleek “hard product” that Hawaiian debuted in early 2024.
While Alaska Airlines flights from Seattle to Rome will only operate during the warmer months, the airline’s service to London will operate year-round.
London is one of the world’s leading business travel markets and a major center for unmundo allianceof which Alaska Airlines is a part.
As part of its new service to London, Alaska previewed an “anticipated deepening of its alliance” with Oneworld members British Airways, which calls LHR home, and American Airlines.
Details: Alaska Airlines’ new service in London
Here’s how the itinerary will play out for Alaska’s new London service to and from its home base at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA), launching again on May 21, 2026.
- SEA-LHR: Departs at 9:40 pm and arrives at 3:05 pm the next day (all local times)
- LHR-SEA: Departs at 5 pm and arrives at 6:50 pm (all local times)
Book Alaska Airlines Flights with Points and Miles
The best way to book Alaska Airlines flights with points and miles is to use its Atmos Rewards program, the joint loyalty program it launched with Hawaiian Airlines in August.
If you do not have a reserve of Atmos Rewards points in your account, please note that the program is 1:1 transfer partner with Bilt Rewards.
Checking redemptions at the gate Tuesday morning, I found economy class rewards on the new Alaska flight starting at 30,000 Atmos Rewards points each way. However, seats in the airline’s business class cabin reached 150,000 points on many dates in summer 2026.
In case any business class seats go unsold, Alaska has promised upgrade your top-tier Atmos Titanium status members in the front cabin, depending on availability, of course.
Looking forward
Alaska Airlines plans to launch at least a dozen new long-haul international routes from Seattle by 2030, the airline has repeatedly said.
That includes Tokyo and Seoul, South Korea, flights that began earlier this year aboard Hawaiian Airlines, although those flights will be flown aboard Alaska-branded aircraft starting sometime next year.
Starlink Wi-Fi Update
Alaska also shared news Tuesday about its plan to adds high-speed Starlink Wi-Fi to all its planes.
Starlink service should begin appearing on its Dreamliner fleet next fall, the airline announced.
Once active, Alaska plans to make its Starlink Wi-Fi service free for all Atmos Rewards members, matching the connectivity already offered on most Hawaii long-haul aircraft.
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