Alaska Airways flyers may have a brand new solution to get to Seoul, South Korea, this fall.
That is when the Oneworld alliance service will launch its deliberate nonstop service between Seattle-Tacoma Worldwide Airport (SEA) and Seoul’s Incheon Worldwide Airport (ICN). Alaska will supply 5 weekly flights with a Hawaiian Airways-operated Airbus A330-200 starting Sept. 12.
The brand new route is a part of a long-haul push by Alaska from its Seattle base. Every day flights to Tokyo’s Narita Worldwide Airport (NRT) start Could 12, and the airline guarantees to launch no less than 12 long-haul locations — together with Seoul and Tokyo — from Seattle by 2030.
TPG’s picks: Essentially the most thrilling new airline routes for 2025
Alaska plans to introduce one of many Boeing 787-9s that Hawaiian has on order on the brand new Seattle-Seoul route “quickly.”
The push is enabled by Alaska’s merger with Hawaiian final 12 months. Whereas the 2 airways proceed to function individually, Alaska plans to merge the latter into its personal operations whereas protecting the Hawaiian model for all flights that contact its namesake islands. Twin-aisle plane in Hawaiian’s fleet will proceed to serve each U.S. and long-haul locations from Hawaii — however additionally they allow new intercontinental nonstops from Seattle.
“The basics to achieve success on this business are relevance and loyalty,” Ben Minicucci, CEO of Alaska Airways, mentioned at an investor occasion in December.
Buying Hawaiian, he and his management crew mentioned, gave Alaska each extra community relevance alongside the West Coast, the place Hawaii is among the high trip locations. It additionally expanded its Alaska Airways Mileage Plan loyalty program with the addition of HawaiianMiles members.
The brand new long-haul nonstops from Seattle are simply one other manner that Alaska is making an attempt to extend its relevance to prospects.
Every day Publication
Reward your inbox with the TPG Every day publication
Be part of over 700,000 readers for breaking information, in-depth guides and unique offers from TPG’s specialists
Professional ideas: Main errors folks make with journey rewards bank cards
The airline can be increasing its bases at each Portland Worldwide Airport (PDX) in Oregon and San Diego Worldwide Airport (SAN) with extra flights and routes. In Could, Alaska will join Portland with each Eugene Airport (EUG) in Oregon and Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), in addition to San Diego with Rogue Valley Worldwide Medford Airport (MFR) in Oregon.
Alaska’s worldwide ambitions will not be with out dangers. It faces a really aggressive market in Seattle with Seoul already served nonstop by Asiana Airways, Delta Air Strains and Korean Air (Korean Air not too long ago acquired Asiana). Tokyo is served by All Nippon Airways, Delta and Japan Airways. Most different main worldwide locations have no less than one nonstop flight.
In September, Alaska is providing fares to Seoul for as little as $773 or 47,500 Mileage Plan miles one-way for financial system. A business-class seat will be snagged for 250,000 miles one-way.
Beneath are the small print of Alaska’s new Seattle-Seoul nonstop:
- SEA-ICN: Departs at 3:25 p.m. and arrives at 6:50 p.m. the subsequent day on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays
- ICN-SEA: Departs at 8:50 p.m. and arrives at 3 p.m. on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays
Associated studying: