Alaska Airlines Puts Seattle Rome Flights On Sale

West Coast travelers have a new way to reach Italy in 2026. Alaska Airlines has opened ticket sales for its first ever European route, a daily seasonal nonstop between Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) and Leonardo da Vinci Fiumicino International Airport (FCO), starting April 28, 2026, with flights scheduled through early October. Introductory roundtrip fares begin at $ 599.00 (USD) on select dates, and the route will be flown with Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft that showcase Alaska's new long haul global cabin.

For travelers, the change is simple but significant. Rome becomes the first European destination in Alaska's network, turning Seattle into a true gateway for transatlantic trips and adding a nonstop option that did not exist before from the Pacific Northwest to Italy's capital.

Alaska Airlines First Europe Route From Seattle

The new service, operating as Flights AS180 and AS181, is scheduled to run daily during the summer season once it launches. From April 28, 2026, AS180 will depart Seattle-Tacoma at 530 p.m. PT and arrive in Rome at 115 p.m. local time the following day. The return, AS181, will leave Fiumicino at 325 p.m. local time and reach Seattle at 545 p.m. PT the same day, which creates an evening arrival that works for connections across the West Coast.

Alaska originally floated the route as a four times weekly service when it first announced plans to connect Seattle and Rome earlier this year. Strong early interest and bookings have already pushed the airline to move to daily service even before the inaugural flight takes off, so travelers can expect consistent daily options rather than a thin schedule with large gaps between departures.

This will be the only daily nonstop flight linking the Pacific Northwest and Rome, which means Alaska is staking out a unique position in a transatlantic market that has historically required connections through hubs like New York, Chicago, or European gateways for Seattle based travelers headed to Italy. For visitors starting in cities like Portland, Vancouver, Anchorage, or smaller West Coast airports, the route plugs into Alaska's existing domestic network at Seattle and reduces overall travel time by removing a connection.

Latest Developments

Alongside ticket sales, Alaska is using the Rome launch to showcase its new long haul experience on the Boeing 787-9 fleet, which it is building out as part of its integration with Hawaiian Airlines. The aircraft will carry 34 enclosed business class suites, each with a fully lie flat seat, direct aisle access, a sliding privacy door, an 18 inch high definition screen, wireless charging, and a dedicated power outlet.

Business class guests will also see soft product upgrades, including Filson bedding and blankets, amenity products by Salt & Stone, and multi course dining designed to highlight West Coast food and beverage partners. On the ground, eligible travelers can start the trip in Alaska's lounges, which are being positioned as part of a curb to cabin global journey rather than a domestic add on.

Premium Class and Main Cabin passengers are not being left out. Alaska says travelers in these cabins will receive two chef inspired meals on the long flight, complimentary beer and wine in both cabins, complimentary spirits in Premium Class, Filson blankets on select seats, and comfort kits stocked with Salt & Stone products on the 787-9. Every seat will have a personal seatback screen with free entertainment, and the airline plans to bring Starlink Wi-Fi to the Dreamliner fleet in fall 2026, with free access for Atmos Rewards members once the system is live.

Fares for the new route start at $ 599.00 (USD) roundtrip on selected dates, according to both Alaska and early fare searches by industry watchers. That entry point is sharp for a West Coast to Europe nonstop, although prices vary by date and are already higher on peak summer departures in most published examples.

Atmos Rewards members will earn one redeemable point and one status point per mile flown on the route, and Alaska has flagged that its top tier Titanium members will be eligible for complimentary lie flat upgrades on intercontinental flights, including Rome, on the day of departure once the benefit rolls out in spring 2026, subject to availability.

Analysis

For Alaska Airlines, the Rome launch is the visible start of a broader shift from a primarily domestic and transborder carrier into a premium long haul player based out of Seattle. The airline plans to base up to 17 Boeing 787-9s at Seattle by 2030, and these aircraft will anchor a network of at least 12 intercontinental destinations across Europe and Asia.

Background Until recently, Alaska's limited international network meant that most Europe bound customers relied on partners and connections, even from its largest hub. The airline's acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines, and with it a fleet of 787s and long haul infrastructure, created a shortcut into widebody operations and gave Alaska the hardware to move from talk about global growth to real routes.

Rome is a logical first step. The route taps strong leisure demand from the Pacific Northwest to Italy, feeds cruise and tour traffic that embarks in Rome, and allows Alaska to sell through itineraries from Alaska, Hawaii, and West Coast cities all the way to the Eternal City under its own code. It also creates more opportunities for partners in alliances and joint ventures to interline passengers beyond Rome into the broader European rail and air network.

From a traveler's point of view, the daily pattern and timing matter as much as the headline destination. The evening departure from Seattle gives flexibility for same day domestic connections and lets travelers arrive in Rome early afternoon, which is late enough to check into most hotels without a long wait but early enough to catch regional trains or short flights within Italy. The mid afternoon departure from Fiumicino in the other direction reduces the pressure of early morning hotel checkouts and builds in a buffer for ground transport or a last museum stop before heading to the airport.

Award travelers and status chasers will need to watch how Atmos Rewards capacity shakes out on this route. Early analysis of other long haul launches has already shown that entry level award prices often exist only on limited dates, with later bookings pricing much higher even when seats are open. If you want to leverage points for the new Seattle to Rome flights, it makes sense to search early, consider flexible dates, and compare Atmos redemptions with partner programs that might offer better value on connecting itineraries.

Onboard, the new business class suite product pushes Alaska into the same conversation as other carriers that already fly lie flat seats across the Atlantic. The 1-2-1 layout with closing doors, large screens, and wireless charging is squarely in line with current industry standards for premium cabins, and the Filson and Salt & Stone tie ins are an attempt to create a distinct Pacific Northwest flavor rather than a generic international experience.

For economy travelers, the most practical benefits will be schedule certainty and included meals on a nonstop rather than a connection through a distant hub. However, the limited season, and the fact that this is a single route dependent on a small long haul fleet, means that disruptions or aircraft swaps could still occur if maintenance or operational issues arise. Anyone planning a tight connection into or out of Seattle around these flights should build in extra buffer and consider trip insurance or flexible tickets where the budget allows.

Final Thoughts

Alaska Airlines putting Seattle Rome flights on sale is more than a single route announcement. It marks the start of a new era in which Seattle-Tacoma International Airport serves as a genuine global gateway and Rome becomes the airline's first nonstop bridge into Europe, with London and Reykjavik to follow.

For travelers, the value is straightforward. A daily summer season 787-9 nonstop with competitive starting fares, a modern business class suite, and solid cabin offerings in every class makes it easier to build Italy into future plans without an extra connection. If you are considering a trip, the smartest moves are to book early while $ 599.00 (USD) fares still appear, keep an eye on award space and upgrade rules as the route matures, and give yourself enough time at Seattle-Tacoma and Fiumicino to enjoy the new long haul experience Alaska is promising.

Sources

• Ready, set, Italia! Alaska Airlines opens ticket sales for new nonstop flights between Seattle and Rome on widebody 787 Dreamliner aircraft
• Alaska Airlines continues international expansion with new flights to London and Reykjavik from Seattle, with a first look at our new global experience
• Alaska Airlines Puts First Europe Flights on Sale
• Fares for Alaska Airlines New Route to Rome Now on Sale, Starting at $599 Roundtrip
• Alaska Airlines to Launch Seattle-Rome Nonstop Flights in April 2026