Dreamliner To Rome: Alaska Airlines Confirms First Europe Route
Alaska Airlines will launch service from Seattle to Rome in 2026, marking its first destination in Europe. Let’s unpack the strategy behind this new route.
Alaska Airlines Picks Rome As First European Destination Using 787-9 Dreamliner
One of the most popular non-clickbait articles I’ve ever published on Live And Let’s Fly was a piece I wrote a day after the Hawaiian-Alaska merger was announced, titled, The Widebody Implications For Alaska Airlines Of Hawaiian Airlines Merger. In that story, I speculated about how Alaska might use Hawaiian 787 aircraft:
At this point, I’m not predicting we will start seeing 787-9 Dreamliner service between Alaska and London or Paris, but I do wonder if we might finally see Alaska meaningfully compete with its peers on transcontinental flights.
Well, at least for now, the transcontinental flights will remain on 737 aircraft, but Alaska Airlines is launching service not to London or Paris, but to Rome.
Starting in May 2026, Alaska Airlines will launch flights between Seattle (SEA) and Rome (FCO), a distance of 5,688 miles. The flight will operate 4x weekly with the following schedule:
- Seattle (SEA) – Rome (FCO) dep 6:00 pm arr 1:45 pm+1 day (10hr45min, operating M, W, F, Su)
- Rome (FCO) – Seattle (SEA) dep 3:45 pm arr 6:00 pm (11hr15min, operating M, T, Th, Sa)
I love the light timing, which is perfect for sleeping when departing from Seattle.
The flight will utilize a Boeing 787-9 aircraft utilizing Alaska’s own branding (rather than being operated by Hawaiian Airlines) and tickets will go on sale this autumn.
A Personal Preference Of CEO
I have to admit, I’m not understanding the economics of the route. Or the aircraft the choice.
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!
That’s very sweet.
Furthermore, Rome is far less competitive than London or Paris. The new service from the “Emerald City” to the “Eternal City” marks the first-ever nonstop service between the two points. It will doubtlessly be popular with leisure travelers
But can Alaska fill up this flight without any connecting traffic from Rome? As a oneworld member, there is no connectivity from Rome on partner carriers. Alaska thinks that it can by offering one-stop service to many of the smaller cities in Italy. Will a partnership with a carrier like Aeroitalia emerge?
Also, the choice of the 787-9 is interesting. I’m quite excited to see a Dreamliner branded for Alaska Airlines (its first widebody aircraft). At the same time, wouldn’t it make more sense to use that 787-9 to Tokyo (service from Seattle has already launched via a Hawaiian Airlines Airbus A330) and use the couple’s friendly A330 to Rome (which offers 2-2-2 seating in business class and 2-4-2 seating in economy class)?
Will Alaska remove any of the distinct Hawaiian features on the Dreamliner?
CONCLUSION
Alaska Airlines will launch service to Rome starting in May 2026 using a 787-9 from its Seattle hub. This will mark Alaska’s first foray into Europe and also represent the carrier’s first widebody jet, since the Dreamliner will be branded as Alaska Airlines.
Will this experiment be the start of a great expansion in Seattle for Alaska? Will Delta or ITA also launch service to Rome?
> Read More: First Look – Hawaiian Airlines 787-9
> Read More: The Widebody Implications For Alaska Airlines Of Hawaiian Airlines Merger