Alaska Airlines has announced the launch of a new direct seasonal connection between Athens and Seattle, starting on 12 May 2027.

According to a statement from the carrier, the new route will operate three times a week using a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft. This marks the first-ever direct link between Athens and Seattle, and more broadly, the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. Furthermore, it will be the longest-haul route ever operated by Alaska Airlines.

The flight number for the service to Athens (AS196) serves as a symbolic reference to 1896 and Athens as the birthplace of the modern Olympic Games.

Ben Minicucci, CEO of Alaska Airlines, stated: “We fly to the destinations our guests want to travel to, and Athens and Paris have been high on their wish lists for years. As we develop more than 12 long-haul international connections from Seattle over the coming years, we are offering travellers more ways to connect with the world and more opportunities to make the most of the Atmos Rewards programme. This international growth is made possible by the outstanding people at our company, who look after our guests and ensure our operations remain safe and reliable”.

On his part, the CEO of Athens International Airport, George Kallimasias, stated: “We warmly welcome Alaska Airlines’ decision to directly connect Seattle with Athens from May 2027. This new addition to our network, which constitutes the historically first direct link between Athens and the Pacific Northwest, will further strengthen Athens’ dynamically developing connectivity with the United States. It creates a new bridge for tourism, business relations, investment and trade between Greece and the American West Coast. We warmly welcome Alaska Airlines to the Athens Airport family and wish them every success with their new route”.