Alaska Airlines adds Athens and Paris to European network

Alaska Airlines will add Athens and Paris CDG to its growing long-haul network from Seattle next year, bringing the number of intercontinental destinations served by the carrier from its home hub to seven.

The airline will launch flights between Seattle and Athens in May 2027, becoming the first carrier to connect the two cities. Alaska will also be the only airline offering nonstop flights between the US West Coast and the Greek capital.

The new Athens service will operate as flight AS196, with the flight number paying homage to Athens as the birthplace of the modern Olympic Games in 1896.

In addition, Alaska plans to introduce service between Seattle and Paris next spring. Once launched, the carrier will become the first oneworld alliance member to operate nonstop flights between the US West Coast and the French capital. Paris is one of the region’s most in-demand transatlantic markets.

The Paris service will operate as flight AS136, a reference to the city’s cultural scene and its 136 museums. Alaska said both routes will feature convenient departure and arrival times aimed at making it easier for passengers to visit the two European destinations.

The airline’s expanding international network will also enable same-day connections between Honolulu and Paris via Seattle, improving international connectivity to and from Hawaii, which is Alaska Airlines’ second-largest hub.

The two new routes form part of Alaska Airlines’ wider international expansion from Seattle, where it plans to operate more than twelve long-haul international routes in the coming years.

The carrier currently serves London LHR in Europe on a year-round basis, as well as Rome FCO and Reykjavik seasonally.

Alaska Airlines CEO, Ben Minicucci, said, “We fly where our guests aspire to go, and Athens and Paris have been high on that list for years. As we build to more than 12 international long-haul routes from Seattle in the coming years, we’re giving travellers more ways to connect to the world. This global growth is possible because of the remarkable people across our airline who take care of our guests and deliver safe and reliable operations.”