Alaska Airlines show sno signs of slowing down its continued fleet development and network growth with the annoucement earlier this month that the Seattle-based carrier is ordering five Boeing 787-10 aircraft. These widebody long-haul capable aircraft are expected to support the airline’s long-haul ambitions, but where could we see them flying?

The airline has already got one 787-9 on hand, with another 11 expected in the near future. Four of these airplanes were transferred from Hawaiian Airlines through Spring 2026. It’s no secret that the acquisition of Hawaiian opened the door for Alaska to acquire the Dreamliner more quickly than usual, supporting the airline’s hub development and its goal to offer 12 long-haul destinations by the end of the decade.

Flying High With The 787

To start with, this article is purely speculative and is just a brainstorm about where Simple Flying thinks hte 787-10 will be deployed. There has been no firm annoucement as yet from Alaska Airlines as to where the 787-10 will fly.

Already, the oneworld airline is flying long-haul routes from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport to Seoul-Incheon and Tokyo Narita using Hawaiian Airlines aircraft, additionally to Anchorage during peak travel periods. This is done with the Airbus A330. However, the carrier is set to launch London Heathrow and Rome Fiumicino later this year.

Why The 787-10?

This is an exciting chapter for Alaska Airlines as it has been catapulted to one of the largest airlines in the United States. Its latest arrival of its first fully branded 787-9 with its aurora borealis livery cements the carrier in the widebody game and reflects its long-haul international ambitions.

While Rome and London are currently planned to operate with the 787-9, it would be no surprise to see the London Heathrow service shift to the 787-10, alongwith the Seoul and Tokyo routes, given the aircraft’s greater passenger (up to 336) and cargo capacity, albeit with a shorter range. Rome, on the other hand, is likely to be best suited for the 787-9, with a smaller capacity for cargo and passengers (296).

It’s no secret that the 787-9 is the most popular variant of the 787 Dreamliner, due to its significantly longer range, and being a versatile aircraft for airline operational needs. The 787-10 is best suited to excel on routes with exceptional demand, maximising per-seat efficiency and operating on medium-haul trunk routes.

Any New Routes On The Horizon?

The 787-9 above (pictured) is just the first of up to a total of 16 787s (between both variants) destined for Alaska Airlines, and this begs the question: Does the airline have any other destinations being considered? Without a crystal ball its hard to say. Where do you think AS could head next?

Given the airline’s growing presence at Seattle, AS is likely to test any new market from here. Heading west, Delhi, Manila, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Ho Chi Minh City, or Bangkok may well be the next steps in the airline’s long-haul expansion. Looking east towards Europe, Amsterdam, Madrid, Dublin, or Paris could also be potential options.

It’s worth also keeping in mind that Alaska Airlines is set to launch its first non-stop service from Seattle to Reykjavik in Iceland with the Boeing 737 MAX 8, which is at the upper end of the aircraft’s range capabilities, meaning it would be impossible for the airline to head any further east with this aircraft type, and puts Asia just out of reach.

Overall, the future looks bright for Alaska Airlines, and the carrier remains one to watch closely as additional widebody aircraft are delivered. At this rate, it appears that AS will continue to develop a trans-Atlantic and trans-Pacific hub from its Seattle-Tacoma base, and it’s likely to see additional routes added soon.