Alaska Airlines opens its second long-haul European route in eight days on May 28, 2026, launching seasonal daily Boeing 787-9 service from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport to Reykjavik Keflavik β the carrier's first-ever scheduled flight to Iceland and a continued showcase of the widebody fleet inherited through its Hawaiian Airlines acquisition.
The Reykjavik launch follows the May 21 inauguration of Seattle-London Heathrow, also operated by the 787-9. Together, the two routes mark Alaska's most aggressive international expansion since the Hawaiian deal closed, transforming a carrier historically built on narrowbody domestic flying into a credible transatlantic player from its Seattle hub.
The Reykjavik flight will operate as seasonal daily through the peak summer travel window, with Alaska confirming continued service through early October 2026. The 787-9 is configured with 34 Premium Class seats, 28 Business Class lie-flat suites, and 230 Main Cabin seats β a configuration carried over from the former Hawaiian Airlines layout with only cosmetic updates so far.
Alaska is using the Reykjavik route to test what executives have called the airline's "adventure-luxury" positioning, targeting Pacific Northwest travelers heading to Iceland for hiking, glacier tours, and Northern Lights expeditions. The carrier expects a strong VFR mix, given the large Icelandic and Scandinavian diaspora in the Seattle area.
Reykjavik is currently dominated by Icelandair, which operates a hub-and-spoke model connecting North America with continental Europe. Alaska's entry adds direct competition on a route Icelandair has historically operated alone from Seattle, with Icelandair's Seattle service running year-round on the Boeing 757 and Airbus A321LR.
The launch also aligns with Alaska's bid to grow its oneworld alliance footprint. With Heathrow and Reykjavik now in the network, Alaska's transatlantic reach is becoming meaningful for the first time, and additional European destinations are expected to be announced before the end of 2026.
Compiled from publicly available aviation news sources. Featured image: AI-generated by AviationShop. This article is original editorial content; facts have been verified across multiple public sources.
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