Alaska Airlines is transferring forward with plans to broaden long-haul flying from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) with an order for 5 more Boeing 787 Dreamliners.
The Seattle-based Oneworld alliance service has exercised buy rights for 5 further 787-9s from the Hawaiian Airlines orderbook, mentioned Larry Payne, chair of the Hawaiian Airlines Master Executive Council on the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), on the Alaska Pilots Podcast on Wednesday. That brings Alaska’s complete agency commitments for the long-haul jet to 13 plane, plus 4 already in the fleet, based mostly on its final fleet plan on the finish of March.
In addition, Alaska plans to open a Hawaiian 787 pilot base in Seattle in March 2026, and exercised choices for 12 further Boeing 737 MAX 10s, Payne mentioned.
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“I think overall this is the first phase in what we’re seeing with the company executing on their promise of growth as a result of the merger,” mentioned Will McQuillen, chair of the Alaska Airlines Master Executive Council at ALPA, on the podcast with Payne.
An Alaska spokesperson was didn’t reply to a request for remark.
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The orders affirm what Alaska administration has indicated for the reason that airline closed its merger with Hawaiian in September 2024: that Hawaiian’s 787 fleet would finally join Seattle to the world. The airline launched its first long-haul flight from Seattle operated by Hawaiian — Alaska can’t function Hawaiian’s planes itself till the airways merge operations on a single certificates — to Tokyo’s Narita International Airport (NRT) with an Airbus A330 in May.
Flights from Seattle to Seoul’s Incheon International Airport (ICN) start Sept. 12, and to Rome Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci Airport (FCO) — Alaska and Hawaiian’s first European vacation spot — in May 2026. Hawaiian will function Seoul with an A330 and Rome with a 787, the latter doubling because the launch of Alaska’s all-new flagship worldwide expertise.
Alaska plans not less than 12 long-haul intercontinental routes from Seattle by the tip of the last decade, executives have mentioned.
Delta, Alaska’s largest competitor in Seattle, just isn’t sitting idly by. Shortly after Alaska unveiled its Italian plans, the SkyTeam Alliance service introduced its personal nonstop from the Emerald City to Rome starting May 6, 2026, and to Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport (BCN) later that month.
Delta has the good thing about a big current long-haul base in Seattle with flights to each Asia and Europe, whereas Alaska is a beloved hometown model and bigger total in the Puget Sound area.
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