Alaska Airlines, the fifth-largest airline in the US, will launch its first long-haul route on Monday: from Seattle to Tokyo. An Airbus A330 from Hawaiian Airlines will be used for the service, the Hawaiian airline that was acquired by Alaska Airlines last year. The company also wants to fly to Europe from next year.

Alaska Airlines, which, contrary to what its name suggests, has its largest base in Seattle and not in Alaska, has a fleet of 325 aircraft. These are mainly used in the western US. They are a mix of Boeing 737s and Embraer 170s. The company does not yet have widebodies, but they are now being borrowed from Hawaiian Airlines to make the longhaul flights possible.

Seattle - Tokyo is the first route, as mentioned, followed by Seattle - Seoul in September. Alaska Airlines will also start flying to Europe from next year, but the company is still keeping secret which destinations exactly. New Boeing 787-9s that were originally also ordered by Hawaiian Airlines will be used for these flights. Alaska Airlines wants to expand the longhaul network to twelve destinations within five years.

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* Origin: AVIATION ECHO HQ (2:292/854)