Alaska Airlines adds 2 more European cities, growing its intercontinental map again

Alaska Airlines adds 2 more European cities, growing its intercontinental map againAlaska Airlines adds 2 more European cities, growing its intercontinental map againThe cards we feature here are from partners who compensate us when you are approved through our site, and this may impact how or where these products appear. We don’t cover all available credit cards, but our analysis, reviews, and opinions are entirely from our editorial team. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.Alaska Airlines is adding two more European destinations to its route map as the carrier's global expansion picks up speed.Nonstop flights from Seattle to Athens, Greece, and Paris will begin in May, giving the carrier a total of five destinations in Europe.Until 2025, Alaska Airlines had never flown beyond North America and Hawaii. Now, with the addition of Athens and Paris, it will serve a total of seven intercontinental destinations — two in Asia (Tokyo and Seoul, South Korea) and five in Europe (London, Rome and Reykjavik are the others).But Alaska's 2024 acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines set the stage for its overseas expansion. Using Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners originally ordered by Hawaiian, Alaska set out to become the nation's fourth major global airline, using its Seattle hub as a launch pad for its new intercontinental service.As for the addition of Athens and Paris, Alaska described the cities as "two of the world's most iconic destinations that rank among the most requested by Atmos Rewards members" — the latter underscoring how frequent flyer sentiment is increasingly driving airline decisions on where to fly.New airline math: How your points and miles are shaping where your favorite carrier flies"We fly where our guests aspire to go, and Athens and Paris have been high on that list for years," Alaska Airlines CEO Ben Minicucci said in a statement. "As we build to more than 12 international long-haul routes from Seattle in the coming years, we're giving travelers more ways to connect to the world and more opportunities to use Atmos Rewards."With its Athens service, Alaska will become the first airline ever to offer regularly scheduled service between Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) and Athens International Airport (ATH). Alaska adds that it will become the only carrier to fly to the Greek capital from the West Coast.The service will be seasonal, beginning May 12 and operating three times a week into October. Alaska says the 6,196-mile route will be the longest one ever flown by the airline.Reward your inbox with the TPG Daily newsletterJoin over 700,000 readers for breaking news, in-depth guides and exclusive deals from TPG’s expertsBy signing up, you will receive newsletters and promotional content and agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe at any time.Flight details are as follows:RouteStart dateEnd dateDeparture timeArrival timeNumber of flightsSeattle to AthensMay 12, 2027October 20274:30 p.m. local time2:20 a.m. local time the next dayThree per weekAthens to SeattleMay 13, 2027October 20274:20 p.m. local time6:55 p.m. local timeThree per weekLie-flat upgrades, valuable points: Why the newest US airline loyalty program won a TPG Award in 2026Alaska Airlines' new service to ParisAlaska Airlines will fly to Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG), where it will go head-to-head with both Air France and Delta Air Lines.Alaska notes that the city is "one of the most searched destinations on alaskaair.com." Seasonal service will begin May 25, with five weekly flights running until the service ends in October.The route is timed to allow for same-day connections between Paris and Honolulu, the main base for the Hawaiian Airlines brand and Alaska Air Group's second-busiest hub.Beyond 'visual expression': Alaska's plans for the Hawaiian Airlines brandRouteStart dateEnd dateDeparture timeArrival timeNumber of flightsSeattle to ParisMay 25, 2027October 20275:25 p.m. local time12:25 p.m. local time the next dayFive per weekParis to SeattleMay 26, 2027October 20272:25 p.m. local time3:50 p.m. local timeFive per weekRelated reading:The best time to book flights for the cheapest airfareBest airline credit cards6 real-life strategies you can use when your flight is canceled or delayedThe 8 best credit cards for booking flightsThe best credit cards to reach elite statusWhat are points and miles worth? TPG's monthly valuationsFeatured image by SEAN CUDAHY/THE POINTS GUYEditorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.