Alaska Airlines announced two new transatlantic routes on Tuesday, with service set to begin this spring.
The airline will begin daily service from Seattle to London, though the carrier did not specify a date, and tickets are not yet on sale. And will fly seasonally from Seattle to Reykjavik starting this spring.
The airline previously announced it would begin flights from Seattle to Rome in the spring, with tickets expected to go on sale this fall. Alaska will soon start new transpacific routes as well, with service from Seattle to Seoul-Incheon beginning Sept. 12, and flights from Seattle to Tokyo-Narita beginning Jan. 7.
“With these bold moves, we are accelerating our vision to connect our guests to the world. We are seizing this moment to redefine the international experience and level up. And we’re doing it with the same relentless focus on safety, care and performance that’s always defined us," Ben Minicucci, Alaska Airlines' CEO, said in a statement. "I’m so proud of how our people continue to step up and deliver as we push ahead on these initiatives, with even more to come.”
A new 787 experience
As the new long-haul routes launch, Alaska is also updating its Boeing 787 aircraft with a new paint job and plans for new interior finishes.
The airline said there are no changes planned to the exterior of Hawaiian Airlines-branded aircraft, which are now part of Alaska Airlines following a merger.
By this spring, all Alaska Airlines-branded 787s in the combined carrier's fleet will feature a new northern lights-inspired paint scheme.
“Our new 787 exterior embodies Alaska’s transition to a global airline with beauty, grace and a nod to our heritage. As we significantly expand to new destinations around the globe, we’re eager for more and more travelers to recognize our new livery as being Alaska Airlines and appreciate the outstanding service we’ve long been known for," Andrew Harrison, Alaska Airlines' Chief Commercial Officer, said in a statement.
Cruising Altitude: Can you recognize an airline by its colors? There's a reason why.
The airline was quick to add that its well-known tail personas are not going away across the fleet.
"The Alaska Native on Alaska narrowbody aircraft and Pualani on all Hawaiian Airlines’ aircraft flying to, from and within the Hawaiian Islands are not going away," the company's press release said. "They will remain unchanged as essential elements of our brands’ legacies and history."
The statement also teased that the combined carriers were preparing to introduce new business class cabins and interior finishes across the long-haul fleet, but did not provide specifics on what form those changes would take.
Zach Wichter is a travel reporter and writes the Cruising Altitude column for USA TODAY. He is based in New York and you can reach him at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Alaska Airlines announces new flights to London and Reykjavik
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