Latest news with #AndrewHarrison
Yahoo
07-08-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Alaska Airlines Adding Flights to Two Major International Destinations
Alaska Airlines is expanding its international service, the company announced on Tuesday. Starting next May, Alaska will fly daily, non-stop from Seattle to London's Heathrow Airport. It will also begin servicing flights between Seattle and Reykjavik, Iceland as a spring and summer seasonal service. Tickets for the new destinations will go on sale in the fall, and Alaska Airlines is offering an early access list here. In an interview with the Seattle Times, Alaska Airlines CEO Andrew Harrison called the new London route 'the crown jewel of our long-haul network to Europe" and also noted strong demand from customers for a Seattle-Reykjavik line. 'This is at the heart of Alaska, to expand beyond our brand, beyond just the West Coast, beyond the national footprint to a global airline and premium airline," Harrison said. Alaska Airlines acquired Hawaiian Airlines last year and shortly thereafter, began announcing its expanded international travel plans, which included a new route to Tokyo, which launched in May. Service from Seattle to Seoul, South Korea will begin in September, followed by Rome in May 2026, the same month that London and Reykjavik become official destinations. Passengers can fly from Seattle to Reykjavik in Alaska's narrow-body Boeing 737 MAX 8 plane, while the trips to London will be taken on the airline's Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners. In addition to the two new international travel hubs, Alaska Airlines also announced a makeover for its Dreamliners fleet on Tuesday. According to The Points Guy, the new "shimmering blue-and-green paint scheme" is meant to conjure images of "the aurora borealis, or northern lights, frequently visible in the airline's namesake state." "We needed something that felt modern, global and premium," Alaska Vice President of Brand and Marketing Eric Edge said. "This is the most premium, flagship expression of our brand." Alaska Airlines Adding Flights to Two Major International Destinations first appeared on Men's Journal on Aug 5, 2025
Business Insider
06-08-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
Alaska Airlines is flying to Europe for the first time — and the planes are getting a fresh look
Alaska Airlines is flying transatlantic for the first time — and has unveiled a fresh livery for its new Boeing 787s to mark the new chapter. In an announcement on Tuesday, the airline called the new design its "first-ever global livery," as it sets up more ambitious international routes following its $1.9 billion acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines last September. Alaska flies to destinations in North America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Until 1998, it also operated flights to eastern Russia. The acquisition added four Boeing 787 Dreamliners to the airline's fleet, which have twin aisles and wide bodies. Another 13 are on order. Previously, it operated single-aisle jets designed for shorter distances. Alaska's Dreamliners will first fly from Seattle to Seoul on September 12. Flights to Tokyo begin on January 7, followed by flights to Rome in the spring. The airline also announced it will start serving Reykjavík, Iceland's capital, from Seattle next May. It will use the narrow-body Boeing 737 Max — making it the longest route with such an aircraft operated by a US airline. Seattle and Reykjavík are about 3,600 miles apart, and flights take around 7½ hours. Daily flights on the route will be available during the summer season, but won't operate during the winter, when Iceland is less popular with tourists due to its shorter days. By next spring, the airline will also operate a daily, non-stop service to London Heathrow, using a Boeing 787. It takes about 9½ hours to fly from Seattle to the British capital, which Alaska calls "one of the most sought-after international destinations and business markets." Unlike on a 737 Max, the 787's business class will have fully lie-flat seats with privacy doors. That could be key for attracting new customers to Alaska for these routes, as premium options have become more important since the pandemic. While travel demand has been slow since the start of the year, many airlines have found that premium demand is still growing. Northern lights livery The new chapter for Alaska Airlines is also being reflected with a redesigned livery, its first update since 2016. For the Boeing 787s, blue and cyan colors extend from the tail and across the white fuselage in a design the airline said is inspired by the northern lights. The horizontal stripe is also supposed to evoke the airline's classic liveries in the 1970s and 1980s. "Our new 787 exterior embodies Alaska's transition to a global airline with beauty, grace, and a nod to our heritage," said Andrew Harrison, the airline's chief commercial officer. "As we significantly expand to new destinations around the globe, we're eager for more and more travelers to recognize our new livery as being Alaska Airlines and appreciate the outstanding service we've long been known for," he added. Some people were surprised that the smiling Inuit, known as Chester, was removed from the airline's livery. He has featured on the airline's tails since 1992 and has become synonymous with the brand. However, only the 17 Dreamliners will be repainted, so he will still appear on most Alaska Airlines jets.
USA Today
05-08-2025
- Business
- USA Today
Alaska Airlines adds new Europe routes, debuts 787 plane makeover
Alaska Airlines announced two new transatlantic routes on Tuesday, with service set to begin this spring. The airline will begin daily service from Seattle to London, though the carrier did not specify a date, and tickets are not yet on sale. And will fly seasonally from Seattle to Reykjavik starting this spring. The airline previously announced it would begin flights from Seattle to Rome in the spring, with tickets expected to go on sale this fall. Alaska will soon start new transpacific routes as well, with service from Seattle to Seoul-Incheon beginning Sept. 12, and flights from Seattle to Tokyo-Narita beginning Jan. 7. 'With these bold moves, we are accelerating our vision to connect our guests to the world. We are seizing this moment to redefine the international experience and level up. And we're doing it with the same relentless focus on safety, care and performance that's always defined us," Ben Minicucci, Alaska Airlines' CEO, said in a statement. "I'm so proud of how our people continue to step up and deliver as we push ahead on these initiatives, with even more to come.' A new 787 experience As the new long-haul routes launch, Alaska is also updating its Boeing 787 aircraft with a new paint job and plans for new interior finishes. The airline said there are no changes planned to the exterior of Hawaiian Airlines-branded aircraft, which are now part of Alaska Airlines following a merger. By this spring, all Alaska Airlines-branded 787s in the combined carrier's fleet will feature a new northern lights-inspired paint scheme. 'Our new 787 exterior embodies Alaska's transition to a global airline with beauty, grace and a nod to our heritage. As we significantly expand to new destinations around the globe, we're eager for more and more travelers to recognize our new livery as being Alaska Airlines and appreciate the outstanding service we've long been known for," Andrew Harrison, Alaska Airlines' Chief Commercial Officer, said in a statement. Cruising Altitude: Can you recognize an airline by its colors? There's a reason why. The airline was quick to add that its well-known tail personas are not going away across the fleet. "The Alaska Native on Alaska narrowbody aircraft and Pualani on all Hawaiian Airlines' aircraft flying to, from and within the Hawaiian Islands are not going away," the company's press release said. "They will remain unchanged as essential elements of our brands' legacies and history." The statement also teased that the combined carriers were preparing to introduce new business class cabins and interior finishes across the long-haul fleet, but did not provide specifics on what form those changes would take.
Scottish Sun
05-08-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Major airline to launch first ever flights from the UK to one of the world's most beautiful cities
Plus, what there is to do in the city TAKE OFF Major airline to launch first ever flights from the UK to one of the world's most beautiful cities Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) AN AIRLINE is launching a new route which will mark not only its first to the UK, but one of the first to Europe as well. Alaska Airlines has announced a new non-stop route between London Heathrow and Seattle, America. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 Alaska Airlines is launching flights between London and Seattle next year Credit: AFP The services, launching in May 2026, will be daily and year-round. The airline will be using a 787-9 aircraft for the route, which will feature 34 enclosed suites with fully lie-flat seats in Business Class. Chief commercial officer Andrew Harrison dubbed the new route to London as "the crown jewel of our long-haul network to Europe". According to the airline, London is the largest intercontinental market from Seattle, with over 400 passengers travelling between the two cities each day. The airline will also be launching a route between Seattle and Reykjavik, in Iceland, next year. Alaska Airlines unveiled a new design for the exterior of some of their planes as well. Seattle, located in Washington State, is known for its iconic landmarks including the Space Needle and Pike Place Market. Not only is it often named one of the most walkable cities, but Travel + Leisure named it America's most beautiful city The city is home to a thriving coffee culture as well as the famous Space Needle. Inside quirky 15ft Seattle pie-shaped tiny home built in 1925 that's only 55inches wide with a bizarre backstory The iconic structure was part of a major project for the 1962 World's Fair in Seattle and towers 605ft into the air. Visitors travel to the top via a lift that takes just 43 seconds to reach the top. Once at the viewing platform, visitors can enjoy views across the city. For those scared of heights - don't worry - there is plenty more to explore in the Emerald City (nicknamed due to the amount of greenery). Houseboats are also a large part of the city's identity and date back to the 1920s, where they were occupied by fishermen and boatmakers. For a slightly more unusual thing to do, head to the Gum Wall. 4 The flights will operate daily between the two cities Credit: Getty It's exactly what it looks like - an entire wall of blue, pink, white, red, green sticky and dried chewing gum. The wall originates from 1999 when theatre patrons used to stick their chewed pieces on the wall. Foodies will enjoy Pike Place Market, where there are hundreds of places to eat, drink and generally mooch. Arguably, one of the most globally famous brands to come out of Seattle is Starbucks and whilst in the city you can head to the original store. Also located on Pike Place Market, the OG Starbucks gives you a taste of where the coffee chain all began. 4 In Seattle there are many places to explore including a Gum Wall and the original Starbucks Credit: Alamy There might be a wait, but inside you can grab a drink and some souvenirs. The city also sits on top of the Seattle Underground, which is a network of underground passageways and basements. The bizarre maze is located directly below the Pioneer Square neighbourhood, and whilst abandoned, in recent decades they have become more of a tourist attraction with guided tours. There are a few airlines that already fly direct between London Heathrow and Seattle, including British Airways, Delta Air Lines and Virgin Atlantic. The average price for a return flight to the Emerald City from the UK is around £715. One woman also visited two US states in one holiday – with cheap flights, terrifying attractions and America's 'best kept secret'. Plus, a historic English city has been named the world's best place to visit in 2025 by New York Times.
The Sun
05-08-2025
- The Sun
Major airline to launch first ever flights from the UK to one of the world's most beautiful cities
AN AIRLINE is launching a new route which will mark not only its first to the UK, but one of the first to Europe as well. Alaska Airlines has announced a new non-stop route between London Heathrow and Seattle, America. 4 The services, launching in May 2026, will be daily and year-round. The airline will be using a 787-9 aircraft for the route, which will feature 34 enclosed suites with fully lie-flat seats in Business Class. Chief commercial officer Andrew Harrison dubbed the new route to London as "the crown jewel of our long-haul network to Europe". According to the airline, London is the largest intercontinental market from Seattle, with over 400 passengers travelling between the two cities each day. The airline will also be launching a route between Seattle and Reykjavik, in Iceland, next year. Alaska Airlines unveiled a new design for the exterior of some of their planes as well. Seattle, located in Washington State, is known for its iconic landmarks including the Space Needle and Pike Place Market. Not only is it often named one of the most walkable cities, but Travel + Leisure named it America's most beautiful city The city is home to a thriving coffee culture as well as the famous Space Needle. Inside quirky 15ft Seattle pie-shaped tiny home built in 1925 that's only 55inches wide with a bizarre backstory The iconic structure was part of a major project for the 1962 World's Fair in Seattle and towers 605ft into the air. Visitors travel to the top via a lift that takes just 43 seconds to reach the top. Once at the viewing platform, visitors can enjoy views across the city. For those scared of heights - don't worry - there is plenty more to explore in the Emerald City (nicknamed due to the amount of greenery). Houseboats are also a large part of the city's identity and date back to the 1920s, where they were occupied by fishermen and boatmakers. For a slightly more unusual thing to do, head to the Gum Wall. 4 It's exactly what it looks like - an entire wall of blue, pink, white, red, green sticky and dried chewing gum. The wall originates from 1999 when theatre patrons used to stick their chewed pieces on the wall. Foodies will enjoy Pike Place Market, where there are hundreds of places to eat, drink and generally mooch. Arguably, one of the most globally famous brands to come out of Seattle is Starbucks and whilst in the city you can head to the original store. Also located on Pike Place Market, the OG Starbucks gives you a taste of where the coffee chain all began. 4 There might be a wait, but inside you can grab a drink and some souvenirs. The city also sits on top of the Seattle Underground, which is a network of underground passageways and basements. The bizarre maze is located directly below the Pioneer Square neighbourhood, and whilst abandoned, in recent decades they have become more of a tourist attraction with guided tours. There are a few airlines that already fly direct between London Heathrow and Seattle, including British Airways, Delta Air Lines and Virgin Atlantic. The average price for a return flight to the Emerald City from the UK is around £715. One woman also visited two US states in one holiday – with cheap flights, terrifying attractions and America's 'best kept secret'. Plus, a historic English city has been named the world's best place to visit in 2025 by New York Times. 4
