Alaska Airlines Expands European Presence with New Routes

Alaska Airlines is growing its intercontinental route map with the addition of two new European destinations. The carrier will begin nonstop flights from Seattle to Athens, Greece, and Paris in May, bringing its total number of European destinations to five.

## Expansion Plans The new routes are part of Alaska Airlines' global expansion, which has gained momentum since its acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines in 2024. Using Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners originally ordered by Hawaiian, Alaska is becoming a major global airline, with its Seattle hub serving as a launch pad for its new intercontinental service. The carrier now serves a total of seven intercontinental destinations, including two in Asia and five in Europe.

The addition of Athens and Paris was driven by frequent flyer sentiment, with Alaska describing the cities as "two of the world's most iconic destinations that rank among the most requested by Atmos Rewards members". According to Alaska Airlines CEO Ben Minicucci, "We fly where our guests aspire to go, and Athens and Paris have been high on that list for years".

## New Routes The new service to Athens will be seasonal, operating three times a week from May 12 to October. Alaska will become the first airline to offer regularly scheduled service between Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and Athens International Airport, and the only carrier to fly to the Greek capital from the West Coast. The route will be the longest one ever flown by the airline, covering a distance of 6,196 miles.

The service to Paris will also be seasonal, with five weekly flights starting on May 25 and running until October. Alaska will fly to Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport, where it will compete with Air France and Delta Air Lines. The route is timed to allow for same-day connections between Paris and Honolulu.

## Route Comparison Here is a comparison of the new routes: | Destination | Start Date | Frequency | End Date | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Athens | May 12 | 3 times a week | October | | Paris | May 25 | 5 times a week | October |

Alaska Airlines' expansion into Europe is a significant development for the carrier, which had never flown beyond North America and Hawaii until 2025. With its new routes, Alaska is giving travelers more ways to connect to the world and more opportunities to use Atmos Rewards.