Alaska Airlines Expands Global Hub with Seattle-Seoul Route
Alaska Airlines is set to expand its international reach as it launches a new nonstop seasonal route from Seattle to Seoul-Incheon, reinforcing the city’s status as a global gateway. This latest addition is part of the carrier’s ambitious expansion program that will also see new flights to Tokyo later in 2025. The new service is scheduled to begin on September 12, 2025, and will operate five times per week using the fleet of widebody Airbus A330-200 aircraft operated by Hawaiian Airlines, with all tickets marketed and sold by Alaska Airlines. This collaborative arrangement comes on the heels of a merger completed in 2024 with Hawaiian Airlines, positioning the Seattle hub as a major international connector on the US West Coast.
The new route, connecting Seattle-Tacoma Airport (SEA) to Seoul-Incheon Airport (ICN), covers a distance of 5,216 miles (8,345 km). Westbound flights will depart from Seattle at 15:25 local time from Wednesday through Sunday, crossing the International Date Line and arriving in Seoul at 18:50 local time the following day. On the return leg, eastbound flights are scheduled to leave Seoul at 20:50, with a short turnaround of two hours at the airport, and then arrive back in Seattle at 15:00 local time on the same day. This scheduling is designed to facilitate smooth connections with Alaska Airlines and partner flights departing later in the afternoon and evening from Seattle, further leveraging the strength of the airline’s hub.
While the Seattle-Seoul market is already competitive, with Delta Air Lines operating daily services using 281-seat Airbus A350-900s, Asiana Airlines flying daily on 301-seat Boeing 777-200LRs, and Korean Air – the new parent of Asiana – offering 325-seat Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner services, Alaska Airlines is entering as a relative underdog with its 1,390 seats per week in each direction. However, Alaska’s strategic advantage lies in the robust network and extensive onward connections available from its Seattle hub. By 2030, the carrier aims to serve at least 12 nonstop international destinations with widebody aircraft from Seattle, including the newly launched routes to Seoul-Incheon and Tokyo-Narita. This expansion strategy is expected to significantly boost the airline’s global footprint, offering more convenient options for transpacific and transcontinental travel.
Alaska Airlines’ commitment to expanding international services from Seattle is bolstered by the city’s role as the largest airline hub on the West Coast. Historically, Seattle has served as the spiritual home for Alaska’s domestic operations, and the recent expansion into long-haul markets underscores the airline’s transformation into a true global player. The partnership with Hawaiian Airlines provides Alaska with access to a modern fleet of Airbus A330-200s, which not only offer enhanced fuel efficiency and passenger comfort but also contribute to a more competitive product in the international market.
As part of its continued expansion, Alaska Airlines plans to build on this momentum by announcing new routes to dynamic Asian destinations in the coming years. With its robust network and strategic hub at Seattle, the airline is well-positioned to connect travelers across continents, offering a seamless travel experience that capitalizes on its global partnerships and forward-looking expansion strategy.
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