Alaska Airlines 2026: Record 110-Plane Boeing Deal Signals Global Expansion

Travelers watching Alaska Airlines will see the carrier shift from a primarily West Coast network to a bona-fide global player this year. Here is what’s coming and why it matters. Alaska Airlines goes trans-Atlantic in Spring 2026 Seattle travelers will gain daily nonstop flights to both London Heathrow and Reykjavík, Iceland. The London service will be flown on brand-new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners featuring 34 lie-flat Business Class suites, while the Reykjavík route will use the long-range 737-8 MAX. The airline says the two additions are the fourth and fifth of at least 12 intercontinental cities it plans to serve from Seattle by 2030, expanding one-stop access for Mileage Plan members across Europe via partnerships with American Airlines and British Airways. New “Aurora” livery and 787 hub in Seattle A striking green-and-blue livery inspired by the Northern Lights will debut on the Dreamliner fleet in January, underscoring Alaska’s evolution into a global brand. Up to 17 787-9s will be based in Seattle, supported by a new wide-body pilot base and long-haul service to Seoul, Tokyo Narita and Rome within the next 12 months. Biggest Boeing order in company history To feed future growth, Alaska placed an order for 110 additional Boeing jets—its largest single purchase ever—covering MAX 7, MAX 8 and MAX 10 variants. Deliveries stretching into the next decade will allow the carrier to up-gauge high-demand routes while lowering fuel burn and maintenance costs. Loyalty upgrade: Atmos Rewards Frequent flyers are already testing Atmos Rewards, the airline’s revamped loyalty program that layers spend-based earning on top of traditional mileage accrual. Early feedback highlights easier elite qualification and more flexible upgrade certificates—changes designed to keep Alaska competitive against the “Big 4” while rewarding the most profitable customers. Employee investment translates to service gains Alaska just awarded employees nearly three weeks of additional pay after earning multiple “best workplace” honors. Management says the payout is part of a broader strategy to incentivize frontline staff as long-haul flying ramps up, betting that motivated crews will differentiate the onboard experience as the brand enters crowded trans-Atlantic markets. What it means for travelers 1. More nonstop options: London, Reykjavík, Seoul and Rome give West Coast flyers new one-airline itineraries without backtracking through hubs in Chicago or Dallas. 2. Premium comfort: Dreamliner suites with privacy doors and the forthcoming premium-economy cabin on Hawaiian-operated A330s raise the bar for Alaska’s traditionally value-oriented product. 3. Richer points: Atmos Rewards plus bonus earning on Oneworld partners strengthen the mileage currency just as international redemptions expand. 4. Competitive fares: Aggressive fleet growth should keep trans-Atlantic pricing in check as Alaska challenges the joint venture dominance of Delta, United and American. Bottom line Alaska Airlines is moving quickly from “Seattle-plus-sun” to a global network airline. New routes, next-gen aircraft, a refreshed loyalty ecosystem and an employee-first culture position the carrier to capture premium and leisure demand alike in 2026 and beyond. Expect more route announcements, especially in Europe and Asia, as additional Dreamliners roll out of Boeing’s factories over the next 18 months.