Launching next year, Alaska Airlines’ upcoming route from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) to London Heathrow (LHR) is one of the most hotly anticipated additions to the busy transatlantic market in recent times. After securing slots at the UK’s largest and busiest airport in a deal with American Airlines last week, Alaska Airlines has now announced that tickets are on sale for its flights between Seattle and London.

These services will commence in May of next year, and operate all year round on a daily basis. While there is stiff competition on this route, with British Airways, Delta, and Virgin Atlantic already offering four daily round trips between them, Alaska Airlines remains confident that it will be able to make a big splash across the pond. A key string to its bow on this front is the timings of its flights, which it says are convenient for business travelers.

London Calling!

Alaska Airlines confirmed in a statement released earlier that tickets for flights from Seattle to London, its fifth international destination, have now gone on sale. For guests traveling from the US, fares start at $699 for a return trip, with the carrier keen to highlight the fact that its announcement has come « just in time for planning summertime travel in Europe. » The first flight from Seattle to London will depart on Thursday, May 21, 2026.

Flying east, these daily services will depart at 9:40 pm, arriving in London nine hours and 25 minutes later at 3:05 pm the next day. After a turnaround of just under two hours, the westbound return leg will leave at 5:00 pm and land nine hours and 50 minutes later, at 6:50 pm. The carrier notes that guests can thus « spend a whole day in either city before boarding their flights, » which is « a potential benefit for business travelers. » It adds that:

« Alaska Airlines will operate out of London Heathrow’s Terminal 3, which facilitates convenient connections to additional destinations across Europe and beyond on oneworld member airlines and our additional global partners. »

The Carrier Secured Slots Last Week

There was a degree of inevitability to this news, with the question of Alaska Airlines putting its flights from Seattle to London on sale being a matter of ‘if’ rather than ‘when’ following the carrier’s acquisition of slots at Heathrow Airport last week. This came about as a result of a deal with American Airlines, which has leased a pair of slots at the UK’s largest and busiest airport to Alaska Airlines that it would normally use for a rotation from Miami.

For now, that lease will run throughout the summer season, and cease on October 24. However, with Alaska Airlines’ new route from Seattle to London set to operate on a year-round basis, the carrier will likely have to strike up a similar deal for the winter period. In any case, it has plenty to look forward to.

Indeed, Simple Flying reported earlier today that Alaska Airlines had received the first Boeing 787 Dreamliner of its own. Unlike those being transferred from its new partner Hawaiian Airlines, this jet currently has an all-white livery, but will be emblazoned with the carrier’s new ‘Global’ scheme at the start of 2026.

What’s It Like Onboard?

In addition to its convenient flight times on the Seattle-London route that Alaska Airlines hopes will appeal to business travelers, the carrier is also touting its on-board experience as something that it hopes will help to give it a leg up over its considerable competition on the corridor. As seen above, the best seats in the house will be the 34 business class suites, which are laid out in a 1-2-1 configuration offering all guests direct aisle access.

Passengers can expect lie-flat comfort in these enclosed suites, with lounge access and « multi-course, elevated dining on board » also being part of the equation. Meanwhile, certain economy seats will be known as ‘Premium Class’ and feature extra legroom, while all passengers will be given Filson blankets.