Alaska Airways is transferring forward with plans to increase long-haul flying from Seattle-Tacoma Worldwide Airport (SEA) with an order for 5 extra Boeing 787 Dreamliners.
The Seattle-based Oneworld alliance service has exercised buy rights for 5 extra 787-9s from the Hawaiian Airways orderbook, mentioned Larry Payne, chair of the Hawaiian Airways Grasp Govt Council on the Air Line Pilots Affiliation (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 within the fleet, based mostly on its final fleet plan on the finish of March.
As well as, Alaska plans to open a Hawaiian 787 pilot base in Seattle in March 2026, and exercised choices for 12 extra Boeing 737 MAX 10s, Payne mentioned.
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“I feel general that is the primary part in what we’re seeing with the corporate executing on their promise of progress on account of the merger,” mentioned Will McQuillen, chair of the Alaska Airways Grasp Govt 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 verify what Alaska administration has indicated because the 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 Worldwide Airport (NRT) with an Airbus A330 in Might.
Flights from Seattle to Seoul’s Incheon Worldwide Airport (ICN) start Sept. 12, and to Rome Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci Airport (FCO) — Alaska and Hawaiian’s first European vacation spot — in Might 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 at the least 12 long-haul intercontinental routes from Seattle by the top of the last decade, executives have mentioned.
Delta, Alaska’s greatest competitor in Seattle, is just not sitting idly by. Shortly after Alaska unveiled its Italian plans, the SkyTeam Alliance service introduced its personal nonstop from the Emerald Metropolis to Rome starting Might 6, 2026, and to Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport (BCN) later that month.
Delta has the advantage of a big current long-haul base in Seattle with flights to each Asia and Europe, whereas Alaska is a beloved hometown model and bigger general within the Puget Sound area.
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