Alaska Airlines is making notable progress in broadening its global presence by creating a hub at Seattle Tacoma International Airport (SEA). Following its acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines, Alaska Airlines has elevated its target from launching 12 long-haul routes by 2030 to 15 routes. Recently, the airline unveiled two new long-haul routes from Seattle, scheduled to start in the spring of 2027. These routes will connect Seattle to Osaka, Japan (KIX), and Papeete, French Polynesia (PPT).
Beginning May 14, 2027, Alaska Airlines will run four weekly flights between Seattle and Osaka. The schedule is as follows: AS867 will depart Seattle at 12:10 PM and reach Osaka at 4:00 PM. The return flight, AS868, will leave Osaka at 6:00 PM and arrive in Seattle at 12:20 PM. The westbound flight is set for Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, while the eastbound flight will take place on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.
Moreover, from June 11, 2027, Alaska Airlines will initiate a thrice-weekly service between Seattle and Papeete. The flight AS987 will depart Seattle at 11:55 PM and land in Papeete at 7:20 AM the following morning. The return flight, AS988, will take off from Papeete at 5:00 PM and arrive in Seattle at 6:00 AM. The southbound service will operate on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, with the northbound service on Sundays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.
Both routes will utilize Hawaiian Airlines’ Airbus A330 aircraft, which accommodate 278 seats, including 18 business class seats and 260 economy seats. While these planes come equipped with Starlink, their interiors are deemed outdated and are scheduled for upgrades starting in 2028.
The launch of these routes is a strategic initiative for Alaska Airlines. The Osaka route strategically positions the airline on the West Coast, catering to the demand for travel to Japan, particularly due to its closeness to Kyoto. The Papeete route seeks to leverage the loyalty of Alaska’s Seattle customer base and the expected demand for travel to French Polynesia.
However, utilizing Hawaiian-branded A330s for these routes presents some branding challenges, as these aircraft were initially designated for routes to and from Hawaii. Nevertheless, Alaska Airlines remains hopeful about generating demand and enhancing its long-haul services from the mainland, providing alternatives to routes served by American and Delta.