Alaska Airlines will fly nonstop from Seattle to Athens and Paris from May 2027 on Boeing 787-9s, with $999 introductory round-trip fares on sale until 26 August. Seattle-Athens will be the longest route in the carrier's history.
Cover image: Alaska Airlines Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner parked on the tarmac at Seattle — photo by Quintin Soloviev, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Alaska Airlines Athens Paris service is confirmed: the carrier announced on 20 August 2026 that it will launch nonstop flights from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport to Athens International Airport and Paris Charles de Gaulle in 2027, both operated by Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners. Seattle–Athens begins 12 May 2027, flying three times weekly, and will be the first-ever nonstop between the two cities — at 6,196 miles, the longest route in Alaska's history. Seattle–Paris follows on 25 May 2027 with up to five weekly flights in the peak summer season.
To mark the launch, Alaska is selling introductory round-trip Main Cabin fares from $999, bookable in the United States through 26 August 2026. Both routes run seasonally through October 2027, and their addition means Alaska will serve seven intercontinental destinations from Seattle by next summer — cementing its position as the largest international carrier at its hometown hub.
When do Alaska's Athens and Paris flights start?
Athens comes first. The Greek capital joins the network on 12 May 2027 with a three-times-weekly schedule, giving the US West Coast its only nonstop link to Greece. Paris Charles de Gaulle follows two weeks later, on 25 May 2027, with up to five flights a week through the summer peak.
| Route | First flight | Frequency | Aircraft | Season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle–Athens (ATH) | 12 May 2027 | 3x weekly | Boeing 787-9 | Through October 2027 |
| Seattle–Paris (CDG) | 25 May 2027 | Up to 5x weekly | Boeing 787-9 | Through October 2027 |
Both are seasonal summer operations for now, matching the pattern Alaska set with its Rome, London and Reykjavik launches earlier in 2026 — routes we tracked in our round-up of new airline routes for summer 2026.
How much are the introductory fares?
Alaska is offering round-trip Main Cabin fares from $999 on both routes, available to book in the US market until 26 August 2026 — a six-day sale window from the announcement. For a first-ever West Coast nonstop to Athens, that undercuts typical one-stop summer economy fares to Greece by a comfortable margin.
Once the intro window closes, expect normal long-haul pricing dynamics to apply: fares on brand-new routes often dip again in later sale cycles before the inaugural summer. Our guide to the best time to book flights explains how far out transatlantic fares typically bottom.
Why is Seattle-Athens a milestone route?
Three records land at once. Alaska becomes the first airline ever to connect Seattle and Athens nonstop, and the only carrier flying between the West Coast and the Greek capital. At 6,196 miles, the flight also becomes the longest in Alaska's 94-year history, surpassing the Seattle–Rome service it launched in May 2026.
Paris carries its own first: Alaska will be the first oneworld alliance carrier to fly nonstop between the West Coast and Paris, plugging a notable gap in the alliance's transatlantic map. For flyers weighing where their miles go furthest, see our explainer on the oneworld, Star Alliance and SkyTeam networks.
What does this mean for Alaska's Seattle hub strategy?
The announcement is the sixth and seventh intercontinental route revealed since Alaska set out its global ambitions in December 2024, following its acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines. By summer 2027 the Seattle lineup will span Tokyo, Seoul, London, Rome, Reykjavik, Athens and Paris — seven intercontinental destinations, more than any other airline offers from the airport.
Alaska says at least five further intercontinental routes will follow, towards a stated goal of at least 12 long-haul destinations from Seattle by 2030. The widebody flying leans on the Boeing 787-9 fleet inherited and expanded through the Hawaiian merger, turning Seattle into a genuine transpacific-and-transatlantic gateway — a textbook case of the connecting-bank economics we describe in how airline hub airports work.
"We fly where our guests aspire to go, and Athens and Paris have been high on that list for years," said Ben Minicucci, Alaska Air Group's chief executive, announcing the routes.
What cabin will passengers get on the 787-9?
Both routes get Alaska's new long-haul configuration of the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, seating 300 passengers: 34 lie-flat business class suites and 266 economy seats. Complimentary Starlink Wi-Fi, provided through T-Mobile, is being rolled out across the long-haul fleet.
Members of Atmos Rewards — the combined Alaska-Hawaiian loyalty programme — can earn and redeem miles on both routes, with oneworld partners extending connectivity beyond Athens and Paris to more than 1,000 destinations worldwide.
Frequently asked questions
When does Alaska Airlines start flying from Seattle to Athens and Paris?
Seattle–Athens launches on 12 May 2027 with three flights per week, and Seattle–Paris Charles de Gaulle follows on 25 May 2027 with up to five weekly flights. Both are seasonal services operating through October 2027 on Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners.
How much are the introductory fares and when do they end?
Introductory round-trip Main Cabin fares start at $999 on both the Athens and Paris routes. They are bookable in the United States only until 26 August 2026, six days after the 20 August announcement, so travellers wanting the launch price need to move quickly.
Is Seattle-Athens really Alaska Airlines' longest flight?
Yes. At 6,196 miles, Seattle–Athens will be the longest route Alaska Airlines has ever operated, overtaking Seattle–Rome. It is also the first-ever nonstop between Seattle and Athens and the only nonstop between the US West Coast and Greece offered by any airline.
How many international destinations will Alaska serve from Seattle?
With Athens and Paris added, Alaska will serve seven intercontinental destinations from Seattle by summer 2027: Tokyo, Seoul, London, Rome, Reykjavik, Athens and Paris. The airline plans at least five more long-haul routes, targeting a minimum of 12 intercontinental destinations from Seattle by 2030.
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