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Alaska Airlines to debut London flights in time for summer travel 2026

By Mark Reif Published December 13, 2025

Architecture, Building, Cityscape — London Benjamin Davies via Unsplash / Unsplash

Last summer, Alaska Airlines announced nonstop service from its Seattle (SEA) hub to London (LHR) and Reykjavík (KEF) to begin at a later date. This week, the airline shared news of the London route’s debut, setting a just-before-summer launch that’ll be sure to please eager travelers. The London flight’s introduction will follow Alaska Airlines’ new service to Rome, which starts in April.

The new route gives West Coast travelers an easy path to London ahead of peak summer season

Those set on a spring or summer journey to London can mark their calendars for May 21, 2026, when Alaska’s first trip from SEA to LHR takes flight. That just ahead of Memorial Day weekend, which traditionally signals the start of the summer travel season. Not only that, but the flight is aboard a state-of-the-art Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, complete with the airline’s beautiful new turquoise-blue livery.

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The daily schedule between SEA and LHR is (local times):

• SEA to LHR: Departure at 9:40 p.m., arrival at 3:05 p.m.

• LHR to SEA: Departure at 5:00 p.m., arrival at 6:50 p.m.

Upon news of the new route, Alaska Airlines CEO, Ben Minicucci said: “With these bold moves, we are accelerating our vision to connect our guests to the world. We are seizing this moment to redefine the international experience and level up. And we’re doing it with the same relentless focus on safety, care and performance that’s always defined us. I’m so proud of how our people continue to step up and deliver as we push ahead on these initiatives, with even more to come.”

Mark Reif is a storyteller focused on the intersection of outdoor culture, travel, and design. From the peaks of Banff to the…

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