Alaska Airlines is charting new international territory with a striking new livery design.
The Seattle-based carrier on Tuesday announced two new transatlantic routes launching in 2026, with nonstop service from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport to London’s Heathrow Airport and Reykjavik’s Keflavik Airport. The airline is rapidly expanding its global reach following its 2024 acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines. It had also purchased Virgin America in 2016.
Both European routes are set to launch in the spring with daily, year-round service planned for London, which is one of the most sought-after destinations for American travelers and a key hub for Alaska’s Oneworld alliance partners.
As part of the announcement, Alaska Airlines revealed a new design for the aircraft that will serve these long-haul flights, retiring the iconic image of the Alaska Inuit Native man that has adorned the airline’s tailfins for decades.
The new look, reserved for the airline’s Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet, replaces the human portrait with flowing swashes of blue and green intended to evoke the aurora borealis.
The rebrand is described by the airline as a tribute to the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest and Alaska, with the aurora motif symbolizing connectivity and global reach. The “Alaska” wordmark remains prominent near the front of the aircraft in navy blue.
The Dreamliner jets, set to enter service in the coming year, represent Alaska’s first foray into twin-aisle aircraft, a move necessary to support intercontinental service. The carrier has historically focused on domestic and short-haul international flights, primarily within North America.
The announcement is part of a broader post-merger strategy that aims to turn Alaska into a formidable player in international travel markets, particularly for West Coast flyers seeking more direct connections overseas.
Flights to Reykjavik and London will be available for booking later this year, the airline said.
Alaska has had innumerable problems with their domestic service, which has deteriorated dramatically in recent years. Getting stranded in Seattle is one thing. being stranded in Iceland is quite another.
Time for a new tail image on all Alaska Airline planes. At the Seattle airport last week, the couple in front of me asked,
“What do they have Jerry Garcia’s picture on all Alaska jets? The Greatful Dead is not a good look for commercial flying.”
I recall my angry response when Seattle-based Alaska Air tried to ditch the iconic Inupiat portrait in years past. I support this evolution. International service is different, and given that AS is limiting the new livery to 787 aircraft, I like the new look.
Superb! We will soon utilize both routes, j’espere.
I’m happy for the bigger jets,
That’s not Jerry Garcia. That’s Johnny Cash on the tail.
Sing along:
“I fell into a burning ring of fire
I went down, down, down and the flames went higher
And it burns, burns, burns, the ring of fire, the ring of fire…”
Ok, that’s enough, fellows.
It looks like an arrow pointing to the door about to pop off mid flight.
They need to replace those Boeing cattle cars ( 737’s) with something bigger on their domestic routes . Also need better service out of Fbks . Four flights per day out of Fbks jam packed with overweight travelers on a cattle car gets old .
Yeah, there’s more than comfort in play when it comes to obese passengers (me included).
According to this NBC story, the seats and seatbelts are tested for 170 lb passengers (per current standard).
Imagine a seat row breaking/buckling or seatbelt failing in a crash sending a 300 lb missile forward.
‘https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna47333720
Thankfully, my last AKAir flights were on Embraers instead of Boings.
Alaska Airlines needs to change their name as well. They don’t represent Alaska and haven’t for a long time! They more represent the woke lifestyle of Seattle and western Washington and Oregon!
I still use them but I have to hold my nose now that they dropped their longtime sponsorship of the Iditarod.
I still use them but I have to hold my nose now that they dropped their longtime sponsorship of the Iditarod.
I agree with removing their tail fin logo.
They lost my exclusive use when they dropped sponsorship of the Iditarod.
Might as well change the name too. Seattle Airlines might be a bit more apropos. I wonder if the flight staff based out of Seattle will be as hostile to those of us with terminal “toxic masculinity” as well. Sure seems to be the norm on this airline. First Class isn’t. I miss the big family feel of the old Alaska Airlines
Kinda boring. The y need to change their name too!
Some of the stewardesses are older than Alaska Airlines itself.
Well I like Alaska Airlines, I have flown several other airlines and I prefer Alaska Airlines over the others, in fact I have more than a million miles just on Alaska Airlines. The flight crews are always friendly (at least to me they are) the planes are clean and they have a pretty good on time record. So when I book a flight I don’t even look at the other airlines, I just fly Alaska unless I have no other choice.