Alaska Airlines is expanding its reach into the Pacific Northwest with the announcement of daily flight services from its hub in Seattle Tacoma International Airport (SEA) to Tokyo Narita Airport (NRT), operated by Hawaiian Airlines.
According to Alaska, its partnership with Hawaiian Airlines marks the beginning of a “new era” of widebody international flying for the airline, and will transform Seattle into the US West Coast’s new global hub.
The airline also said that Seattle Tacoma is the closest connection point between the continental US and Tokyo,7% closer than San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and 13% closer than Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).
Welcome to a new era of travel. We’re wheels up to Tokyo! 🇯🇵 Today marks the inaugural flight from Seattle to Narita, operated by @HawaiianAir. This daily nonstop kicks off @alaskaair’s very first intercontinental route, opening the door to Tokyo and beyond. pic.twitter.com/xwt2MCvAx6
— Alaska Airlines (@AlaskaAir) May 13, 2025
“Our growing fleet of widebody aircraft, which includes the flagship 787 Dreamliner, unleashes a world of possibilities of where we can fly to from Seattle,” Ben Minicucci, CEO at Alaska Air Group said in a statement.
“Looking ahead, we’ll have exciting additional milestones as we share the new international routes we’ll be launching in the coming years, including destinations in Europe, as part of our plans to serve at least 12 international destinations with widebody aircraft from Seattle by 2030,” Minicucci added.
According to Alaska Airlines, Tokyo is the second-largest intercontinental market in Seattle for both business and leisure. Seoul is third, and London is first.
In 2024, around 400 passengers traveled between Seattle and Tokyo in each direction every day, and that’s not including connecting flights,an indication of the popularity of the route.
While initial flights between Seattle and Tokyo are operated on Hawaiian’s Airbus A330 aircraft, Alaska said the future of its international service from Seattle will be with its growing fleet of Boeing 787-9 aircraft.
“Onboard service will initially mirror the Hawaiian hospitality that Hawaiian Airlines guests know and love, while Alaska develops a comprehensive, long-haul experience that will be deployed from Seattle in the future,” the Seattle-based carrier said.
Alaska said it plans to refresh Hawaiian’s Honolulu-based Airbus A330 fleet, by investing in the aircraft’s future for flying to and from Hawaiʻi. The refreshment plans include seating, cabin interiors, and onboard products and amenities. More details on the fleet refurbishment will be shared in 2026, the airline said.
