Alaska Airlines has started the expansion from the new Seattle gateway, and will add Seattle to Rome flights from May 2026.
Four weekly flights to the end of October
This is a first for the route, which will operate from 11 May 2026 with four flights a week throughout the summer season, until the end of October. “Serving Rome nonstop from Seattle is a dream come true,- said Ben Minicucci, CEO of Alaska Airlines. -As an Italian-American son of Italian emigrants, I consider this a particularly important addition to our network. Rome has been at the top of the list since we announced our new world gateway in Seattle. For years our customers have been asking us for an easy way to get to Italy and we are thrilled to finally be able to offer it, to people in the Northwest and beyond. Let's go - Let's go!"
Seattle, the West Coast's new premier global gateway
Rome is the largest intercontinental summer destination not served by Seattle to date. It is consistently among the most popular destinations for Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan members. To get to Italy, they previously had to make several stopovers, but now there is this new direct flight opportunity from Seattle, which is also the best one-stop choice for all travellers from the rest of the West Coast. It advances “Alaska Accelerate”, the three-year strategic plan to achieve $1 billion in incremental profits following the merger with Hawaiian Airlines, while transforming Seattle into the West Coast's new premier global gateway.
Rome follows Tokyo-Narita and Seoul-Incheon
Rome will be the third international route served from Seattle, following Tokyo-Narita, launched on 12 May, and, from 12 September, Seoul-Incheon. The hub at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport is now the largest air hub on the West Coast and serves 104 destinations throughout North America with direct flights. This autumn Alaska Airlines will obtain a single operating certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the new route will be served by a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, operated by Alaska Airlines, which will sport a new, truly global look and feel.
Fiumicino is a gateway for the entire Mediterranean basin
Located in central Italy, Rome will be the gateway for Central and Southern Europe and the entire Mediterranean basin. Leonardo da Vinci airport in Fiumicino offers convenient connections to all the main cities in Italy such as Milan, Venice, Florence, Naples, Catania, Palermo and many other destinations. Moreover, Rome, thanks to the port of Civitavecchia, is the second largest cruise port in Europe, a gateway to the Mediterranean. Fiumicino Airport offers more than 230 non-stop flights to destinations in some 80 countries
“Fiumicino plays key role in intercontinental travel”
“We are particularly proud that Alaska Airlines has chosen Rome as its first destination in Europe,- said Ivan Bassato, chief aviation officer Aeroporti di Roma. -This decision confirms the strategic importance of our airport as a global hub for air connections. For the first time Italy will be directly connected to
Seattle, further strengthening ties with the West Coast of the USA and the entire Pacific area.
Today Fiumicino ranks among the main European airports for the number of direct flights to North America, consolidating its key role in intercontinental travel.” For those arriving from Italy, Alaska Air Group's Seattle hub will offer nonstop punctual and convenient connections to 104 destinations throughout North America, including one of the best connections to Hawaii.
