Alaska Airlines is celebrating a new global connection between the Pacific Northwest and Japan with flights between our hometown hub in Seattle and Tokyo Narita, operated by Hawaiian Airlines’ long-haul aircraft. The new service marks the start of daily nonstops between the two dynamic cities and the beginning of a new era of widebody international flying for Alaska.
With the combination of Alaska and Hawaiian, we’re transforming Seattle into the West Coast’s new premier global gateway. Our hub at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) is already the largest airline hub on the West Coast, serving 104 nonstop destinations across North America. Seattle is the closest connection point between the continental U.S. and Tokyo – 7% closer than San Francisco and 13% closer than Los Angeles.
Tokyo Narita and Seoul Incheon are our first two long-haul flights from Seattle of the 12 we’re looking to add. We’ve seen strong interest in our nonstop flights to Tokyo, with half of the tickets we’ve sold in the U.S. for flights to Narita originating from more than 80 cities outside of Seattle. Flights between Seattle and Seoul begin on Sept. 12.
Tokyo is the second-largest intercontinental market in Seattle for both business and leisure. Seoul is third; London is first. In 2024, about 400 passengers traveled between Seattle and Tokyo in each direction every day, and that’s not including connecting flights – an indication of the popularity of the route. From across our robust network, guests can travel to Tokyo Narita and Seoul with one stop in Seattle.
The future of our international service from Seattle will be with our growing fleet of Boeing 787-9 aircraft as we lean into the strong presence of the Alaska brand in Seattle and the Pacific Northwest. Onboard service will initially mirror the Hawaiian hospitality that Hawaiian Airlines guests know and love, while Alaska develops a comprehensive, long-haul experience that will be deployed from Seattle in the future. The Airbus A330 fleet, based in Honolulu, remains a proud part of the Hawaiian Airlines brand as we invest in that aircraft’s future for flying to and from Hawaiʻi. We’ll refresh the A330s in the coming years to provide a premium, modern global experience. This includes investments in seating, cabin interiors and onboard products and amenities. We’ll share details in 2026.
Initial flights between Seattle and Tokyo Narita will be on the A330s operated by Hawaiian:
Main Cabin guests can choose from two complimentary hot entrees, with ice cream offered as a dessert option along with mid-flight snacks and a second hot meal pre-arrival.
Guests in all classes of service receive an amenity kit in partnership with the Hawaiʻi lifestyle brand Noho Home. In Business Class, guests will enjoy full bedding in their full-flat seats with a mattress pad, duvet, pillows and even slippers. With sustainability in mind, they also choose which amenity items they’d like.
Staying entertained on board is not a problem. Guests can choose from nearly 200 new releases and classic movies, and more than 500 TV shows. The Hana Hou! TV and Hawaiian Skies categories within our entertainment system also include a curated selection of Hawaiʻi-focused local shows and short films.
