Alaska Airlines announces new nonstop flights between Seattle and Seoul Incheon beginning Sept. 12 on Hawaiian Airlines

Rhea-AI Summary

Alaska Airlines (ALK) has announced new nonstop service between Seattle and Seoul Incheon starting September 12, 2025, operated by Hawaiian Airlines using Airbus A330-200 aircraft. The route launch coincides with Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving) celebrations in early October.

The expansion is part of Alaska's strategy to transform Seattle into the West Coast's premier global gateway. The airline plans to serve at least 12 nonstop international destinations with widebody aircraft from Seattle by 2030, including the recently announced Tokyo Narita route beginning May 12.

Alaska's Seattle hub, the largest airline hub on the West Coast, currently serves 104 nonstop destinations across North America. The airline plans to eventually operate the Seattle-Seoul route with its Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft.

Positive

• Expansion into international markets with new Seoul route strengthens global presence
• Strategic growth plan targeting 12 international destinations by 2030 shows clear expansion roadmap
• Seattle hub's position as largest on West Coast with 104 destinations demonstrates strong market presence
• Integration with Hawaiian Airlines expands fleet capacity with widebody aircraft

Negative

• Initial operations dependent on Hawaiian Airlines aircraft rather than own fleet
• Significant investment and operational costs associated with international expansion

Insights

Airline Industry Analyst

Alaska Airlines' announcement of nonstop Seattle-Seoul service represents a significant strategic milestone in the carrier's international expansion following its Hawaiian Airlines combination. The September 12th launch cleverly positions the service to capture demand for Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving) travel in October, potentially boosting initial route performance.

This move demonstrates tangible execution on Alaska's previously announced strategy to transform Seattle into a global gateway hub, with plans for at least 12 international destinations by 2030. Following their upcoming Tokyo service (launching May 12), Alaska is establishing a meaningful Asia-Pacific footprint - a notable pivot for a historically North American-focused carrier.

Operationally, leveraging Hawaiian's widebody A330-200 aircraft solves a critical capability gap that previously Alaska's long-haul aspirations. The planned transition to Boeing 787 Dreamliners indicates further fleet optimization to potentially improve route economics.

The Seattle hub, already Alaska's largest with 104 North American destinations, provides substantial passenger feed for these international routes. This hub-and-spoke leverage represents a textbook network expansion strategy that could enhance overall system efficiency.

For investors, this development signals two key positives: 1) continued integration progress between Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines, and 2) tangible realization of the merger synergies that justified the combination. While financial details remain , the strategic execution demonstrates management's ability to deliver on growth commitments while maintaining operational focus.

The new route will link the Pacific Northwest and South Korea as Alaska builds our hometown Seattle hub into a new global gateway 

SEATTLE, March 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Alaska Airlines has set the date for new nonstop service between Seattle and Seoul Incheon on Hawaiian Airlines. Starting Sept. 12, 2025, guests can fly in comfort on our long-haul, widebody Airbus A330-200 aircraft to South Korea's capital city. We initially announced the new international route this past December. Tickets can now be purchased at alaskaair.com and hawaiianairlines.com.

With the combination of Alaska and Hawaiian, Seattle is transforming into the West Coast's new premier global gateway. By 2030, we plan to serve at least 12 nonstop international destinations with widebody aircraft from Seattle, including Seoul Incheon and Tokyo Narita. Daily flights between Seattle and Tokyo Narita begin on May 12.  

Alaska's Seattle hub is the largest airline hub on the West Coast, serving 104 nonstop destinations across North America for convenient travel options and connections.

"With our robust network, we can connect our guests through our global gateway in Seattle for convenient nonstop service to Seoul and Tokyo, with additional connections to other Asian destinations with our global partners," said Andrew Harrison, chief commercial officer at Alaska Airlines. "As we grow our global network from Seattle in the coming years, we'll announce new international routes to dynamic destinations that we know our guests are going to love to visit."

The new service between Seattle and Seoul Incheon will take flight just before the start of Chuseok, also known as Korean Thanksgiving Day – one of the nation's most important and festive holidays. It takes place in early October this year, allowing travelers to visit with family and friends in South Korea with Hawaiian's award-winning service and hospitality.  

We look forward to adding our flagship Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft to the Seattle-Seoul Incheon route soon.

City Pair	Departure	Arrival	Frequency	Aircraft
Seattle – Seoul Incheon	3:25 p.m.	6:50 p.m. +1	W, Th, F, Sa, Su	A330
Seoul Incheon – Seattle	8:50 p.m.	3:00 p.m.	M, Th, F, Sa, Su	A330

All times local; September schedule shown

About Alaska Air Group
Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines and Horizon Air are subsidiaries of Alaska Air Group, with McGee Air Services a subsidiary of Alaska Airlines. With hubs in Seattle, Honolulu, Portland, Anchorage, Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco, we deliver remarkable care as we fly our guests to more than 140 destinations throughout North America, Latin America, Asia and the Pacific. Alaska is a member of the oneworld Alliance with Hawaiian scheduled to join in 2026. With oneworld and our additional global partners, guests can earn and redeem miles for travel to over 1,000 worldwide destinations. Guests can book travel at alaskaair.com and hawaiianairlines.com. Learn more about what's happening at Alaska and Hawaiian. Alaska Air Group is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) as "ALK."

 

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SOURCE Alaska Airlines

FAQ

When will Alaska Airlines (ALK) start its Seattle to Seoul Incheon flights?

Alaska Airlines will begin nonstop flights between Seattle and Seoul Incheon on September 12, 2025.

What aircraft will Alaska Airlines use for the Seattle-Seoul route?

Initially, Hawaiian Airlines will operate the route using Airbus A330-200 aircraft, with plans to later transition to Alaska's Boeing 787 Dreamliner.

How many international destinations does Alaska Airlines plan to serve from Seattle by 2030?

Alaska Airlines plans to serve at least 12 nonstop international destinations with widebody aircraft from Seattle by 2030.

How many nonstop destinations does Alaska Airlines currently serve from its Seattle hub?

Alaska Airlines' Seattle hub currently serves 104 nonstop destinations across North America.