Alaska Airlines Eyes First European Flights in 2026, CEO Says

Alaska Airlines is looking to start its first flights to Europe in 2026 as part of its ambitious plans to expand internationally after merging with Hawaiian Airlines. 

“Europe is definitely on the radar for 2026,” said Alaska CEO Ben Minicucci at the Wings Club in New York on Thursday. 

Alaska is currently set to launch its first two international routes later this year: Seattle to Tokyo will debut in May and Seattle to Seoul will start in September. 

Minicucci said at the event that Alaska has so far seen steady demand for its Seoul and Tokyo routes. 

“The community couldn't be more excited to start using their miles, and even the business community is excited about some of the places that we're going to go,” he said. 

Alaska set its sights on international destinations after its merger with Hawaiian was approved by the U.S. Department of Transportation. Through the merger, Alaska acquired Hawaiian’s widebody fleet, which includes Boeing 787s and Airbus A330s. 

Minicucci did not specify which European destination Alaska would launch first, but the carrier has been eyeing London, Paris, and Rome, according to its December investor day presentation. 

Flying to Europe and Asia from Seattle will be tough for Alaska Airlines. The carrier’s biggest competitor out of Seattle Tacoma International Airport, Delta Air Lines, also operates several routes to the same destinations. 

“Our company can go toe-to-toe with anyone,” Minicucci said, when asked about competition from Delta, which also uses Seattle as one of its West Coast hubs. 

Alaska and JetBlue?

When asked if Alaska was potentially in talks with JetBlue about forming a partnership, Minicucci said the airline was focused on integrating Hawaiian into its operations. 

“We have all this work … driving $500 million in synergies, $500 million in revenue initiatives, that is for three years, going to keep us totally focused,” he said. 

JetBlue executives have expressed interest in reviving a partnership similar to its partnership with American Airlines, known as the Northeast Alliance. A federal judge struck down on the partnership, arguing that it was anticompetitive. 

JetBlue president Marty St. George said during an investor conference in February that the carrier was still in talks with “multiple airlines” about a partnership. 

United Airlines said in a securities filing in January that it was not in talks with any airlines regarding a merger. There were some rumors that United could be interested in such a merger with JetBlue or would buy some of JetBlue’s assets. 

United CEO Scott Kirby said during the JPMorgan industrials conference in March that such a partnership would have “a lot of challenges.”

At United, when the business — business plan is working, like the hurdle to go to — we don't need a deal for sure. The hurdle to go do a deal gets a whole lot higher,” Kirby said. “That said, at least at United, I would like to have a bigger presence on the other side of the river at JFK. But man, all the headache, all the brain damage of buying a whole airline to get there. That's a lot to do.”