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Alaska Airlines Set to Launch First-Ever European Route with Nonstop Flights to Rome in 2025

Prime Highlights:

  • Alaska Airlines starts its first-ever nonstop transatlantic flight from Seattle to Rome.
  • It is the first nonstop air link between Seattle and Rome.

Key Facts:

  • Sea-Tac Airport serves 36 international destinations with this addition.
  • Alaska Airlines targets a rise in premium seat share from 25% to 29% within three years.

Key Background :

Alaska Airlines ventured into transatlantic air travel for the first time as it commenced nonstop flights between Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (Sea-Tac) and Rome, Italy. The route to Italy is part of the new strategy of the carrier that shifts the carrier from domestic U.S. and short-haul international travel which has been its core markets. The Seattle-Rome nonstop is the first direct flight between Seattle and Rome and establishes Sea-Tac as a new international air hub.

The expansion is following Alaska Airlines’ recent takeover of Hawaiian Airlines, which is enabling the airline to utilize a fleet of widebody planes, which are best suited for international travel. With access to Airbus A330s and Boeing 787 Dreamliners for the first time in history, transatlantic travel is now possible. CEO Ben Minicucci, who is of Italian-American descent, himself marked the new route as a “dream come true” for everyone concerned.

The carrier is also preparing to raise service delivery by expanding its proportion of premium seating. It currently stands at 25% and aims at raising the proportion to 29% in three years, in congruence with the trend towards in-flight amenities and services among long-haul passengers. Its launch in Rome is also predicted to be in demand, especially because it keeps passengers away from the conventional European transfer points of London, Paris, or Frankfurt.

With a volatile travel landscape and rising operating costs, Alaska Airlines is optimistic on the bottom line. The airline expects full-year profitability in 2025 and is guiding earnings this quarter at $1.15 to $1.65 per share. Through additional international routes and enhanced customer experience, the company is laying the ground for long-term growth abroad and better competitive positioning in the international air industry.