Seattle Expands Transpacific Routes to Asia
Alaska Airlines is set to transform its Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) into a major transpacific gateway with the launch of its second long-haul route to Asia. Beginning September 12, the airline will operate flights from Seattle to Seoul Incheon Airport (ICN) five times per week. This new service is part of a broader strategy to expand international connectivity from its SEA base, following Alaska Air Group’s acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines last year. The airline group plans to transfer some of Hawaiian’s widebody aircraft to Seattle, enabling long-haul flights to key destinations across Asia. In addition to the new Seattle-Seoul route, Alaska Airlines has already announced that flights from Seattle to Tokyo Narita Airport (NRT) will begin on May 12, operated daily with a Hawaiian Airbus A330-200 aircraft.
Historically, Alaska Airlines has not operated long-haul international routes and did not include widebody aircraft in its fleet. The recent acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines has provided Alaska with access to a number of widebody aircraft, including the Airbus A330-200 and Boeing 787. Over time, several of Hawaiian’s A330s and 787s, previously used to connect Honolulu Inouye International Airport (HNL) with various Asia-Pacific destinations, will be redeployed to serve long-haul routes out of Seattle. This strategic move allows the airline group to better balance its capacity and meet growing demand for nonstop international flights from the West Coast.
Alaska Airlines stated that by 2030, it aims to serve at least 12 nonstop international destinations with widebody aircraft departing from Seattle. The new routes to Seoul Incheon and Tokyo Narita are among the first steps in realizing this ambitious plan. The decision to launch these routes reflects the airline’s focus on targeting high-yield premium demand while also capturing a broader market of leisure and business travelers. Hawaiian’s A330s, which are configured to carry 278 passengers with 18 business-class seats, and its Boeing 787s, carrying up to 300 passengers with 34 business-class seats, will play a crucial role in the expansion.
The Seattle-Tokyo route will replace Hawaiian’s existing service from Honolulu to Tokyo Narita, a move designed to better match capacity with current market demand, which has seen a decline in leisure travel between Hawaii and Japan following the pandemic. Meanwhile, Hawaiian Airlines will continue operating its 14-times-weekly flights between Honolulu and Tokyo Haneda Airport, ensuring that the Hawaii-Japan market remains well served.
With the combination of Alaska’s robust network and the additional capacity provided by Hawaiian’s widebody fleet, Seattle is poised to emerge as the West Coast’s premier global gateway. Alaska Airlines emphasized that this integration will not only strengthen its competitive position in the transpacific market but also offer passengers more travel options and improved connectivity to some of Asia’s most dynamic cities. The airline’s strategy is built on leveraging the best of both brands to create a seamless travel experience that caters to a diverse range of customer needs. As Alaska Airlines moves forward with its plan, it remains committed to expanding its international footprint while ensuring that its services continue to meet the evolving demands of global travelers.
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