Full Breakdown
Alaska Airlines Launches Seattle-Athens and Seattle-Paris Nonstop Flights
8/21/2026, 2:09:42 AM
Core Expansion Announcement
Alaska Airlines announced that it will begin seasonal nonstop service from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport to Athens International Airport and Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport. The Athens flight (AS196) will operate three times per week starting May 12, 2027, and the Paris flight (AS136) will operate five times per week beginning May 25, 2027. Both routes will run through October 2027 and will be flown with the carrier’s Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner fleet.
Background & Growth Strategy
The new routes are the sixth and seventh nonstop long-haul services from Seattle for Alaska, joining existing flights to Reykjavik, London, Rome, Seoul and Tokyo. The expansion follows Alaska Air Group’s 2024 acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines, which added wide-body aircraft and infrastructure that enabled the carrier’s shift from an all-narrow-body fleet to a growing Dreamliner fleet. Alaska has pledged to add at least five more intercontinental destinations by 2030 and to launch at least 12 new trans-Pacific routes by that year, positioning Seattle as a “global gateway.”
Official Statements & Partnerships
Eric Edge, vice president of brand and marketing, said the airline selected the flight numbers to honor each city’s heritage—AS196 references Athens’s role as the birthplace of the modern Olympic Games, while AS136 reflects Paris’s 136 museums.
Competitive Landscape
Alaska’s new Europe-bound services intensify a rivalry with Delta Air Lines, which holds the second-largest share of Seattle-area passengers. Delta recently added a Seattle-Tokyo nonstop that directly competes with Alaska’s earlier launch of the same route, underscoring both carriers’ push to expand international offerings from the Pacific Northwest.
Service Details & Availability
Tickets for the Athens and Paris flights are now on sale. Both routes are seasonal, with the Athens service operating three weekly departures and the Paris service five weekly departures, each using a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. The airline highlighted that the Athens nonstop will be the longest flight Alaska has ever operated and the only direct west-coast service to the Greek capital.
