Alaska Airlines Set to Launch First Seattle-London Heathrow Nonstop May 21

Alaska Airlines will begin its first year-round daily nonstop service between Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and London Heathrow on May 21, marking the carrier's debut on a long-haul international route.

The flight will be operated on the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, with 270 seats split across business, premium economy, and economy. Outbound flight AS-100 departs Seattle at 9:40 p.m. and arrives at Heathrow at 3:05 p.m. the next day. Return flight AS-101 departs London at 5:00 p.m. and lands in Seattle at 6:50 p.m. the same day.

Alaska secured a daily Heathrow slot pair through a lease arrangement with oneworld alliance partner American Airlines. The agreement gives Alaska direct access to one of the most slot-constrained airports in the world without a full slot acquisition.

The launch is the first move in Alaska's broader long-haul plan, which includes upcoming routes to Rome and Reykjavik. The airline is positioning Seattle as a Pacific Northwest gateway with the same hub-and-spoke role British Airways and Virgin Atlantic play out of London.

Inaugural fares started near $1,100 round-trip in economy and $4,500 in business. Bookings for the first month are running ahead of Alaska's projections, with several departure dates already sold out in premium cabins.