Alaska Airlines launches new nonstop flights to Athens and Paris from Seattle
Alaska Airlines has announced that it is to launch new nonstop service between Seattle and both Athens and Paris starting in the Spring of 2027.
The new routes will expand the airline’s international network as it works toward becoming what it describes as the West Coast’s premier global gateway.
When the flights begin, the Seattle-based carrier will become the first airline to ever connect Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) with Athens International Airport (ATH), and the only carrier offering nonstop service between the West Coast and the Greek capital.
Alaska will also become the first oneworld alliance airline to offer nonstop service between the West Coast and Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG), one of the region’s most in-demand transatlantic markets.
Athens and Paris service brings new firsts for Alaska
Service to Athens, operating as flight AS196, begins May 12, 2027, running three times a week and becoming the longest route Alaska has ever flown. The route runs through October 2027, with return flights from Athens beginning May 13, 2026.
Service to Paris, flight AS136, begins May 25, 2027, offering five weekly flights through the fall before returning flights from Paris begin the following day. According to Alaska, the flight number is a nod to the city’s 136 museums, while the Athens service pays homage to the city’s role as the birthplace of the modern Olympic Games in 1896.
Tickets for both routes went on sale August 20, 2026. To mark the launch, Alaska is offering introductory roundtrip Main Cabin fares starting at $999, available for purchase in the US through August 26, 2026.
Alaska eyes 12+ long-haul routes from Seattle by 2030
Ben Minicucci, CEO of Alaska Airlines, noted that Athens and Paris have long ranked among the most requested destinations by the airline’s Atmos Rewards members.
Minicucci said that the airline is working toward operating more than 12 international long-haul routes from Seattle in the coming years, giving travelers more ways to connect globally while using its loyalty program.
Both new routes will be operated using Alaska’s Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, featuring the airline’s international business class with lie-flat suites, multi-course dining, and premium amenities from West Coast-based brands Filson and Salt & Stone.
Atmos Rewards members will also have access to complimentary Starlink Wi-Fi, powered by T-Mobile, as installation continues across the Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines fleets through 2027.
The new routes add to Alaska’s existing intercontinental network from Seattle, which already includes nonstop service to Iceland, London, Rome, Seoul, and Tokyo. The airline said it plans to add at least five more intercontinental destinations by 2030, along with additional Dreamliner aircraft.
Athens airport calls new route a “bridge” for US ties
George Kallimasias, Managing Director and CEO of Athens International Airport, welcomed Alaska’s decision to connect Seattle directly to Athens, calling it the first-ever nonstop service between the Pacific Northwest and the Greek capital.
He suggested that the new route would strengthen Athens’ growing connectivity with the United States and support tourism, business, investment and trade between Greece and the West Coast.
Alaska currently operates more than 360 peak-day departures and 110 nonstop destinations from the Seattle area, and through its oneworld alliance membership and additional global partners, passengers can connect onward to hundreds of destinations across Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and beyond.
The airline’s expanded network also enables same-day connections between Honolulu and Paris via Seattle, improving international access for travelers connecting through Hawaii, Alaska’s second-largest hub.
Alongside the new routes, Alaska Airlines is partnering with Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold on a multi-season marketing campaign celebrating the airline’s global expansion and Seattle hometown pride.
Darnold said he was proud to be part of a campaign highlighting Seattle’s continued growth, both on and off the field, as Alaska extends its reach from Athens to Paris and beyond.
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Alaska Airlines has announced that it is to launch new nonstop service between Seattle and both Athens and…
The post Alaska Airlines launches new nonstop flights to Athens and Paris from Seattle appeared first on AeroTime.
