Alaska Airlines Says Long-Haul Flights 'A Drag': 9 Nonstop Routes

Published Oct 23, 2026, 2:26 PM EDT Journalist – Aaron is an aviation and travel journalist with 14 years of experience in the travel and tourism industry. His background spans airport operations, aviation infrastructure, and travel consulting, having worked with global organizations across New Zealand, Europe, and North America. Combining industry expertise with firsthand travel experience across more than 52 countries and five continents, Aaron covers airlines, airports, aviation policy, and the wider travel sector. He is based in Canterbury, New Zealand. His work has been published in Simple Flying and featured by MSN, SAM CHUI Aviation & Travel, EIN News, Pakistan Defence, and Climate Depot. Despite Alaska Airlines aggressively expanding its long-haul network, the airline lost $147 million in the third quarter; while it attributes this to a higher-than-expected tax rate, the loss likely reflects the expansion of its long-haul operations. According to Enilria, the Seattle-based airline expects a total loss of $650 million in Q4. Rapid growth pressure is common for airlines, and it can take months, sometimes years, for a route to fully mature. As the airline's load factors improve, it may still be a 'drag' in the near term. London Remains Popular, And Long-Haul Travel Outlook Looks Positive Credit: Alaska Airlines Improved load factors have driven a 7.5-point increase in load for the third quarter from international operations alone. Unit revenues have improved by 24%. While performance during the first year of operations on these new routes may be subdued, they are expected to fully mature over time. Loading map… Drag to explore London Heathrow Airport (LHR), likely one of the most recognizable routes in the airline's exciting international expansion, is enjoying positive demand, and specifically in the premium cabins. This is an exciting development for the airline, which otherwise faces direct competition on the city pair against alliance partner British Airways, and competitors Delta Air Lines and Virgin Atlantic. Flight Number From Departure Time To Arrival Time Duration Equipment AS100 Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) 7:40 PM London Heathrow Airport (LHR) 12:20 PM + 1 Day 9 hours, 40 minutes Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner AS101 London Heathrow Airport (LHR) 2:45 PM Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) 5:00 PM 10 hours, 15 minutes Connecting Via Seattle Is An Important Part Of The Equation Credit: Alaska Airlines Alaska is betting big on demand not only from local Seattle travelers, but also from transiting passengers through its Seattle hub. The carrier has already launched routes to London, Rome, Reykjavik, Seoul, and Tokyo, with new services to Athens and Paris due to come online next year. Earlier this week, the airline also announced plans to use Hawaiian Airlines' Airbus A330s to launch new services from Seattle to Osaka and Papeete from 2027. Papeete, in French Polynesia, is an exciting addition as the airline expands to the South Pacific and fills the gap left by Air Tahiti Nui, which axed its Seattle connection earlier this year. Alaska has grown into one of the largest airlines on the US West Coast, and it is betting big on developing Seattle into a global hub. The airline has otherwise enjoyed modest load factors on its international long-haul routes from Seattle, with the highest on its Narita services, which have seen 85.9% load factors and have operated for more than a year. Destination Total Passengers In 12 Months To July 2026 Load Factor Service Commencement Rome 38,613 68.1% April 2026 Seoul 42,397 81.7% September 2025 Reykjavik 17,011 82% May 2026 London 32,098 74.8% May 2026 Tokyo Narita 47,797 85.9% May 2025 Where Might Alaska Pick Next For International Expansion? Credit: Alaska Airlines With Athens, Paris, Papeete, and Osaka coming online next year, many aviation enthusiasts are closely watching where Alaska could expand next. Many have wondered whether more Asian destinations are on the cards, with some pointing to Shanghai, Beijing, Bangkok, or Ho Chi Minh City. Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport (SYD), Australia, has also been mooted as a potential new route for the airline, as it debuted the Sydney Harbour Bridge in its first onboard safety video. None of these routes have been formally announced by the airline.