Alaska Airlines Just Flew to Europe for the First Time in Its 93-Year History

At 5:30 PM Pacific time on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, Alaska Airlines Flight AS180 lifted off from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport bound for Leonardo da Vinci Rome Fiumicino Airport, and 93 years of Pacific-only aviation history came to an end. The departure marked the airline's first-ever transatlantic flight, the first nonstop scheduled service between Seattle and Rome in aviation history, and the most significant single step in Alaska Airlines' transformation from a regional West Coast carrier into a genuinely global airline.

A Historic First on Multiple Levels

Alaska Airlines today marks a major milestone with the launch of its inaugural nonstop flight between Seattle and Rome, the first-ever direct connection between the Emerald City and the Eternal City. The new service signals Alaska's official expansion into Europe and reinforces its role as a global carrier, further establishing Seattle as a premier international gateway for Alaska Airlines.

The seasonal service, operating daily through October 23, departs Seattle-Tacoma International Airport in the late afternoon and arrives in Rome the following day, while return flights leave Italy in the afternoon and reach Seattle the same day. 

The new Rome service also advances Alaska Airlines' growing global cargo business. Beginning April 28, Alaska will become the first US passenger airline to offer daily nonstop cargo service between Seattle and Rome, strengthening trade connections between the Pacific Northwest and Italy and expanding the airline's cargo network to 109 destinations worldwide. 

Why Rome and Why Now

The choice of Rome as Alaska's European debut was not arbitrary. Alaska didn't choose Rome arbitrarily. The airline identified it as the single most-requested European destination among its Mileage Plan members, the most popular city in Europe with no nonstop service from Seattle. 

Due to strong guest response, Alaska increased the Seattle–Rome flight frequency from four times a week to daily. The airline is the only carrier offering the convenience of a daily nonstop.

The personal significance of the route to Alaska's CEO added a deeply human dimension to the launch. "Serving Rome nonstop from Seattle is a dream come true. As an Italian American whose parents emigrated from Italy, this is a particularly meaningful addition to our network," said Alaska Airlines CEO Ben Minicucci. 

"Rome has been at the top of the list ever since we announced our new global gateway out of Seattle. Our guests have been asking for an easy way to get to Italy for years, and we're thrilled to provide it to people in the Northwest and beyond. Andiamo, let's go!" 

Ben Minicucci also framed the launch within the airline's broader corporate strategy: "Service to Rome expands how we connect our guests to the world, strengthens Seattle's role as a global gateway and is made possible by our people who deliver safety, care and performance with every flight." 

International Suites Debut on Inauguration Day

The Rome launch coincided precisely with the introduction of Alaska Airlines' new international business class product. Alaska's international business class Suites experience debuts just in time for new service to Rome, underscoring the carrier's commitment to elevating the onboard experience as it expands its international footprint across Asia and Europe.

The Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner carries 300 seats in three cabins: 34 Business Class Suites, 79 International Premium Class seats, and 187 Main Cabin seats. 

Guests will be welcomed on board with a new global experience, including lie-flat seats, enclosed suites and multi-course dining in Business Class.

For the airline's most loyal passengers, an additional exclusive benefit has been activated. Atmos Titanium status holders will receive complimentary lie-flat upgrades on international routes on the day of departure. Alaska is the only US airline loyalty programme to offer this upgrade type. 

Coming soon, Suites guests and Alaska's Atmos Titanium members travelling through Seattle-Tacoma International Airport will enjoy a new, exclusive check-in lane, with additional lanes planned across Alaska's key hubs, including Anchorage, Portland, San Francisco and Los Angeles, and internationally in London, Reykjavik, Rome, Seoul and Tokyo. 

The Employee Enthusiasm That Said Everything

An extraordinary detail emerged in the build-up to the inaugural departure that speaks volumes about what this route means inside the airline. More than 1,150 Alaska Airlines employees placed themselves on the standby list for the inaugural flight, potentially a world record for most standby passengers on a single flight. 

Alaska's social media team had to issue a plea asking employees to remove themselves from the standby list if they weren't committed to travelling: "We love the enthusiasm, but please cancel your listing if you are unsure about your plans. Be kind to your co-workers, and only list if you are serious about traveling on the inaugural flight to Rome." It had little effect. Numbers only grew. 

Rome Fiumicino's Welcome

The significance of the route was acknowledged at the highest level by the airport receiving the inaugural flight. Ivan Bassato, Chief Aviation Officer of Aeroporti di Roma, stated:

"We are pleased to welcome Alaska Airlines to Rome Fiumicino, marking an important milestone as the airline launches its first European destination. This new nonstop service to Seattle, the first-ever scheduled connection between the two cities, strengthens our position as a leading gateway between Europe and North America, particularly to the US Pacific region. The route reflects our continued focus on growing high-value intercontinental connectivity that supports economic development, benefits local communities and enhances the competitiveness of Italy's national economy." 

Starlink Coming to the 787 Fleet

Passengers on future Rome flights will soon enjoy another enhancement that underlines Alaska's technology ambitions. Alaska is set to bring ultra-fast Starlink Wi-Fi to its 787-9 aircraft in fall 2026. The service will be free for Atmos Rewards members thanks to T-Mobile. 

With these installations complete, Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines will become the first US carriers to offer Starlink on 100% of their wide-body fleet, while also operating more Starlink-equipped flights from Seattle than any other airline. Alaska continues to lead the industry as the only airline in the world with its entire regional fleet equipped with Starlink Wi-Fi. The airline's first Starlink-enabled mainline aircraft, a Boeing 737-8 MAX, also entered service this month. 

Seattle's Expanding Global Gateway

The Rome launch is the third European announcement in Alaska's rapidly expanding international programme, and the picture of Seattle as a global hub is now taking clear shape. Alaska will offer daily, year-round service between Seattle and London Heathrow starting May 21, 2026, on its Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, while seasonal daily flights to Reykjavik, Iceland begin May 28 on a Boeing 737 MAX 8.

By 2030, Alaska plans to serve at least 12 intercontinental destinations from Seattle, with additional routes to be announced in the years to come. The airline currently has four 787-9s in its fleet, with a fifth aircraft recently delivered, and plans to deploy up to 17 Dreamliners across its global network.

The Rome route also creates a new and commercially significant connection between Italy and the broader Pacific. The news comes just as Alaska fully integrated Hawaiian Airlines into its passenger service system, giving those flying from Rome to Seattle options to continue on to Hawaii via that airline. 

Alaska Airlines Seattle–Rome and Key New International Operations 2026

All details are based on officially published Alaska Airlines schedule data.

Aircraft: AS180/AS181 operated by Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner — 34 Business Class Suites, 79 International Premium Class, 187 Main Cabin (300 seats total). Distance: 5,688 miles (9,154 km). Roundtrip fares from $599. All times local. Passengers should verify all schedules directly with Alaska Airlines prior to travel.

What It All Means

For an airline that has spent 93 years defining itself by its Pacific identity, flying to Rome is a statement about what Alaska Airlines is becoming. With Rome now open, London Heathrow launching on May 21, and Reykjavik following on May 28, Alaska Airlines will, within four weeks, be operating nonstop scheduled services to three European destinations simultaneously, a transformation that would have been difficult to envisage even two years ago. For Seattle's residents, the change is equally profound: the Pacific Northwest's hometown carrier is now the fastest, most direct way to the Italian capital, and a growing European network awaits on a product built to compete at the highest level of international travel.