Alaska Airlines launched nonstop service between Seattle and Rome on April 28, 2026, opening its first direct link between the Pacific Northwest and the Italian capital and its first self-operated route to continental Europe.

The daily seasonal flight will run through late October, using Boeing 787-9 aircraft on a route built for long-haul travel. The carrier is framing the Rome service as a summer centerpiece of its growing international network, a sign of how far alaskaair is pushing beyond the partner-operated transoceanic flying it has relied on in the past.

At the center of the new service is the International Business Class cabin, which has 34 individual suites arranged in a 1-2-1 configuration so every passenger has direct aisle access. Each suite includes a fully lie-flat seat with a sliding privacy door, a bed long enough for most travelers to stretch out in full, adjustable headrests, storage space and larger surfaces for devices and dining.

The 787-9 is also being used to soften the grind of the trip itself. Alaska says the aircraft’s larger windows and lower cabin altitude are meant to reduce fatigue on the roughly 11-hour westbound and 10-hour eastbound transatlantic segments. The cabin also includes premium economy style seating and standard economy.

Alaska is pairing the aircraft with a broader service overhaul that includes new bedding, amenity kits and refreshed dining tailored to each long-haul market. On the Rome route, that means Italian-inspired dishes, plus expanded in-flight entertainment, larger seatback screens and high-speed satellite connectivity.

Long-haul business-class passengers will also get lounge access in Seattle and at partner facilities in Rome, an added layer of polish for a route the airline is clearly treating as more than a seasonal experiment. Later in 2026, Alaska expects the business-class suites to roll out to additional long-haul destinations in Europe and Asia.

The Rome launch gives Alaska a visible foothold on a market it had not served on its own before, and it arrives just as the airline is trying to turn a once partner-dependent model into a direct international network. For travelers, the question now is less whether Seattle can support one nonstop to Rome than how quickly alaskaair can turn this first route into a broader long-haul play.