It’s quite a transformative time for Alaska Air Group, as the company acquired Hawaiian Airlines, and is turning Seattle-Tacoma into a global hub, with plans to launch a dozen long haul routes by 2030.
We’ve recently seen the airline add flights to Tokyo Narita (NRT) and to Seoul Incheon (ICN). In June 2025, the airline announced its first route to Europe, and there’s now an update, as the exact details about the new service have been announced, and the flight will go on sale shortly.
Alaska adding Seattle to Rome flights as of April 2026
As of April 28, 2026, Alaska Airlines will launch daily, seasonal flights between Seattle (SEA) and Rome (FCO). The flight will operate with the following schedule:
AS180 Seattle to Rome departing 5:30PM arriving 1:15PM (+1 day)
AS181 Rome to Seattle departing 3:25PM arriving 5:45PM
The 5,688-mile flight is blocked at 10hr45min eastbound and 11hr20min westbound. For what it’s worth, initially this route was only supposed to launch as of May 2026 and was supposed to operate 4x weekly, but the airline has moved up the service, and has increased the number of frequencies.
Alaska will operate the flight with a Boeing 787-9, featuring 34 business class seats and 266 economy class seats. So, why is Rome Alaska’s first European destination out of Seattle? It’s a pretty logical choice:
- Rome is the most popular European destination currently not served nonstop from Seattle
- This routing also provides a convenient one-stop option from all kinds of points along the West Coast to Italy, since there’s not that much nonstop service
- There are no slot restrictions in Rome, so this is a destination that’s easy enough to add service to
However, in the meantime, Alaska has also announced plans to launch two more routes to Europe. As of May 2026, the airline will fly to Keflavik (KEF) using Boeing 737 MAXs, and to London (LHR) using Boeing 787s.
Here’s how Alaska CEO Ben Minicucci describes the new route to Rome:
“Serving Rome nonstop from Seattle is a dream come true. As an Italian American whose parents emigrated from Italy, this is a particularly meaningful addition to our network. Rome has been at the top of the list ever since we announced our new global gateway out of Seattle. Our guests have been asking for an easy way to get to Italy for years, and we’re thrilled to provide it to people in the Northwest and beyond. Andiamo – let’s go!”
Not surprisingly, as soon as Alaska announced plans to launch this route, Delta matched. Delta plans to launch Seattle to Rome flights as of next summer as well.
This marks a new chapter for Alaska long haul flying
It’s of course cool to see Alaska Airlines launch its first route to Europe. However, in the context of Alaska’s long haul flying, what’s most exciting is that this will be Alaska’s first long haul route fully operated under its own branding.
Alaska and Hawaiian are now on a single operating certificate, meaning that as far as the FAA is concerned, the two carriers are one. Now the airlines are trying to figure out their combined branding. Up until now, Alaska’s long haul flying out of Seattle has been operated by Hawaiian branded planes, with the typical Hawaiian soft product, which certainly creates a bit of confusion.
As of next spring, there will be a new soft product on these long haul flights out of Seattle, fully reflecting Alaska. The airline is still light on details in terms of what we can expect, but here are a few things that have been teased:
- In business class, passengers will be served from the carrier’s Chef’s (tray) Table program, and there are partnerships with Salt and Straw, Straightaway Cocktails, and Stumptown Coffee
- In business class, passengers can expect Filson bedding and blankets, and amenity kits from Salt & Stone
- In economy, passengers will be offered Filson blankets, and comfort kits with Salt & Stone products
While these 787-9s don’t yet have Starlink Wi-Fi, that’s expected to be installed as of the fall of 2026 (Hawaiian has Starlink on most of its fleet, and Alaska will also soon install it fleetwide).
Here’s how Alaska VP of Guest Products and Experiences Todd Traynor-Corey describes the new passenger experience:
“This is the Alaska experience our guests already love – taken to an entirely new level. We’re building the most extraordinary guest experience of any U.S. airline flying internationally. Our guests will feel the difference from the moment they take off to the moment they arrive.”
Bottom line
As of April 2026, Alaska Airlines will launch a new route between Seattle and Rome with a Boeing 787. This will be Alaska Air Group’s third long haul route out of Seattle, and the first flight to Europe, and the first flight to be Alaska marketed.
It’s going to be so strange to see a 787 in an Alaska livery, and I look forward to seeing the updated soft product on these flights. As Alaska grows its long haul network, it’s important that the airline actually has a competitive inflight experience, so it’s good that we’re increasingly seeing these flights operated by 787s rather than A330s.
What do you make of Alaska’s new Seattle to Rome route?
