Alaska Airlines Secures Heathrow Slots For New Seattle-London 787 Service
Alaska Finally Cracks Heathrow
Alaska Airlines has finally secured the slots it needs at London Heathrow Airport (LHR) to launch its long-planned service from Seattle–Tacoma International Airport (SEA).
Starting in May 2026, the airline will operate a daily nonstop flight between Seattle and Heathrow using a 300-seat Boeing 787-9 in a three-class layout. This will become Alaska’s fourth intercontinental route, following earlier announcements of new services from Seattle to Tokyo, Seoul, and Rome, all also starting in spring 2026.
The win at Heathrow is a significant strategic milestone for Alaska Airlines, which has long relied on partners for transatlantic connectivity. A branded presence at London’s premier hub gives the carrier a powerful new tool to retain and attract premium West Coast travelers.
Why Heathrow Slots Were So Hard To Get
Slots at Heathrow are famously scarce and tightly controlled. Alaska first announced its intention to launch SEA–LHR back in August, but the big question was always: where would the slots come from?
Some observers speculated that oneworld partner British Airways might hand over one of its two daily Seattle–Heathrow flights. However, BA enjoys 90%+ load factors on the route and uses premium-dense Boeing 777-300ERs and 787-10s, so there was little incentive to surrender capacity.
Instead, Alaska went through the standard process and applied directly to Airport Coordination Limited (ACL), which manages Heathrow’s slot portfolio. When ACL published its initial coordination report for the Summer 2026 season, Alaska’s application had been rejected along with those of many other carriers. Without slots, the route was effectively grounded before it got off the runway.
That left just one realistic path: negotiate with an existing slot holder and lease a daily slot pair at market rates—often an eye-watering expense in the Heathrow ecosystem.
American Airlines Steps In With A Summer Slot Lease
The breakthrough came via Alaska’s oneworld partner American Airlines, the third-largest slot holder at Heathrow behind British Airways and Virgin Atlantic.
Scheduling data from Cirium shows that American plans to operate one fewer daily US–Heathrow flight in summer 2026 compared to the previous year, cutting a daily Miami–Heathrow rotation starting May 22, 2026.
ACL’s latest slot lease update confirms that:
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Alaska Airlines has leased 14 slots (one daily arrival and one daily departure)
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The lease is from American Airlines
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It begins on May 22, 2026, aligning perfectly with Alaska’s planned start date
As it stands, the provisional schedule has Alaska’s new flight:
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Arriving at Heathrow at 14:05 UTC
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Departing at 16:00 UTC
That’s an extremely tight turnaround for an international 787 operation, so those times may still be adjusted before final timetables are published.
Interestingly, the lease currently only runs through the summer season, ending October 24, 2026. Alaska, however, has billed SEA–LHR as a year-round daily service, so questions remain about how it will secure slots for future seasons—either via extended lease arrangements or additional slot trades.
Still, the airline is framing this as proof of the value of its growing partnership ecosystem:
“Alaska’s expansion into the London market, facilitated by strengthened collaborations with American Airlines and British Airways, presents significant opportunities. These alliances are expected to deepen over time, offering even greater value and connectivity to consumers.”
What The Seattle–Heathrow Experience Will Look Like
Alaska Airlines plans to operate the new route with its Boeing 787-9 fleet, configured with 300 seats across three cabins:
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34 Adient Ascent business class suites
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1–2–1 layout with all-aisle access
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Fully flat beds with privacy doors
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Large 4K seatback screens
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Adjustable privacy dividers in the center section
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79 extra-legroom seats (quasi-premium cabin)
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3–3–3 layout
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Extra legroom, larger screens, more recline, and enhanced service compared to standard economy
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Marketed as a separate, more comfortable middle product, though not branded as a true Premium Economy
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187 standard economy seats
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3–3–3 layout
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Seatback entertainment with Bluetooth pairing
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Complimentary meals and non-alcoholic beverages
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Alaska also plans to lean heavily on its soft product as a differentiator on this flagship route, highlighting:
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Two chef-inspired meals in premium cabins showcasing Pacific Northwest cuisine
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Complimentary beer and wine
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Filson-branded blankets, bedding, and amenity kits featuring specialist skincare products
Looking ahead, the airline intends to equip its 787s with Starlink high-speed Wi-Fi, offered free to Atmos Rewards members, from late 2026. That would bring the long-haul product in line with the emerging industry standard for connectivity.
Why Heathrow Matters So Much To Alaska
For Alaska Airlines, a Heathrow service from Seattle is about much more than adding another dot on the route map. It:
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Anchors Alaska firmly in the transatlantic premium market
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Deepens its oneworld and JV-style connectivity via partners at Heathrow
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Gives Seattle-based customers a nonstop option to London, competing directly with British Airways, Delta, and Virgin Atlantic
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Adds a powerful marketing and loyalty tool as it ramps up its long-haul ambitions
Securing Heathrow slots was the hardest part. With that hurdle cleared—at least for the first summer season—Alaska Airlines now has a platform to prove it can compete credibly on one of the world’s most prestigious long-haul routes.
