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Alaska Airlines is adding two more European destinations to its route map as the carrier's global expansion picks up speed.
Nonstop flights from Seattle to Athens and Paris will begin in May, giving the carrier a total of five destinations in Europe.
Until 2025, Alaska Airlines had never flown beyond North America and Hawaii. Now, with the addition of Athens and Paris, it will serve a total of seven intercontinental destinations – two in Asia (Tokyo and Seoul) and the five in Europe (London, Rome and Reykjavik, Iceland, are the others).
But Alaska's 2024 acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines set the stage for its overseas expansion. Using Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners originally ordered by Hawaiian, Alaska set out to become the nation's fourth major global airline – using its Seattle hub as a launch pad for its new intercontinental service.
As for the addition of Athens and Paris, Alaska described the cities as "two of the world's most iconic destinations that rank among the most requested by Atmos Rewards members" – the latter underscoring how frequent flyer sentiment is increasingly driving airline decisions on where to fly .
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"We fly where our guests aspire to go, and Athens and Paris have been high on that list for years," Alaska Airlines CEO Ben Minicucci said in a statement . "As we build to more than 12 international long-haul routes from Seattle in the coming years, we're giving travelers more ways to connect to the world and more opportunities to use Atmos Rewards."
Alaska Airlines' new service to Athens
With its Athens service, Alaska will become the first airline ever to offer regularly scheduled service between Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) and the Greek capital. Alaska adds that it will become the only carrier to fly to Athens International Airport (ATH) from the West Coast.
The service will be seasonal, beginning May 12 and operating three times a week into October. Alaska says the 6,196-mile route will be the longest one ever flown by the airline.
Flight details are as follows:
Seattle to Athens Begins May 12, 2027 Ends October 2027 Departs 4:30 p.m.* Arrives 2:20 a.m. next day* 3 flights per week
Athens to Seattle Begins May 13, 2027 Ends October 2027 Departs 4:20 p.m.* Arrives 6:55 p.m.* 3 flights per week
* all times local
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Alaska Airlines' new service to Paris
Alaska Airlines will fly to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG), where it will go head-to-head with both Air France and Delta Air Lines.
Alaska notes that the city is "one of the most searched destinations on alaskaair.com." Seasonal service will begin May 25, with five weekly flights running until the service ends in October.
The route is timed to allow for same-day connections between Paris and Honolulu, the main base for the Hawaiian Airlines brand and the Alaska Air Group's second-busiest hub.
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Seattle to Paris Begins May 25, 2027 Ends October 2027 Departs 5:25 p.m.* Arrives 12:25 p.m. next day* 5 flights per week
Paris to Seattle Begins May 26, 2027 Ends October 2027 Departs 2:25 p.m.* Arrives 3:50 p.m.* 5 flights per week
* all times local
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Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
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