Alaska Airlines Adds New Seattle Nonstops to Paris and Athens for 2027

Alaska Airlines is continuing its surprisingly aggressive international expansion, announcing two new nonstop routes from Seattle to Paris and Athens beginning in May 2027.

The Athens flight is particularly notable: it will be the only nonstop flight between the U.S. West Coast and Athens, while the Paris service will make Alaska the first oneworld airline to offer a nonstop flight between the West Coast and Paris.

Tickets are already on sale, and Alaska is promoting introductory roundtrip Main Cabin fares starting at $999 for purchases made in the U.S. through August 26, 2026.

Hat tip to Danny the Deal Guru for flagging the new routes. Read Danny the Deal Guru's coverage

Seattle to Athens: Alaska's Longest Route Yet

The more interesting of the two announcements may be Seattle to Athens.

Alaska will launch seasonal nonstop service between Seattle (SEA) and Athens (ATH) on May 12, 2027, operating three times per week through October.

It will not only be the first nonstop flight between Seattle and Athens but also the only nonstop option from anywhere on the West Coast to the Greek capital. Alaska says it will also become the longest route the airline has ever operated.

Service is currently scheduled to run through October 2027.

For West Coast travelers who previously needed to connect through an East Coast or European hub to reach Greece, this creates a particularly attractive new option.

Seattle to Paris Starts May 25

Alaska's new Seattle to Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) service begins May 25, 2027.

The seasonal route will operate five times per week through October, making it a considerably more frequent option than the new Athens service.

Paris obviously isn't a new nonstop destination from the West Coast—other airlines already fly the route—but Alaska's entry is significant for oneworld flyers and Atmos Rewards members.

Alaska will become the first oneworld carrier offering nonstop West Coast-to-Paris service.

Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners on Both Routes

Both Athens and Paris will be operated by Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, giving Alaska a true long-haul widebody product on the routes.

International Business Class features lie-flat suites, multi-course dining and Alaska's upgraded international service. Alaska also says the aircraft will offer complimentary Starlink Wi-Fi for Atmos Rewards members as installation continues across the fleet through 2027.

That makes these routes considerably more interesting for points travelers than simply adding another destination to Alaska's route map.

The 787 gives Alaska a competitive premium-cabin product on flights that are long enough that a lie-flat seat can make a major difference.

What About Atmos Rewards Points?

Atmos Rewards members will be able to earn and redeem points on the new Paris and Athens flights, although Alaska has not announced any special introductory award pricing for these routes.

That means it is worth checking both cash and award availability rather than assuming the $999 introductory cash fare translates into unusually cheap award pricing.

For those sitting on Atmos Rewards points, the bigger story may simply be having two additional destinations available on Alaska-operated aircraft rather than relying entirely on partner award inventory.

And because Seattle is Alaska's primary hub, travelers from cities throughout the West can connect through SEA onto the European flights. Alaska specifically notes that its network will allow connections from cities across the West Coast, Alaska and Hawaii.

Alaska Is Becoming a Very Different Airline

This announcement makes more sense when you look at how dramatically Alaska's network has changed.

Once Athens and Paris begin, Alaska will have seven intercontinental destinations from Seattle:

• Athens
• Paris
• Reykjavik
• London
• Rome
• Seoul
• Tokyo

And Alaska isn't finished. The airline says it intends to add at least five additional intercontinental destinations by 2030 as more Dreamliners enter the fleet.

That's an extraordinary transformation for an airline that until recently was overwhelmingly associated with domestic West Coast, Alaska and Hawaii flying.

The Hawaiian Airlines acquisition gave Alaska access to the 787 Dreamliner fleet and the long-haul infrastructure necessary to compete in markets that would have been difficult to imagine Alaska serving only a few years ago.

The Trash Panda Take

The Athens route is the standout here.

Paris already has substantial service from the United States, but a nonstop flight from the West Coast to Athens fills a genuine hole in the transatlantic network. For Alaska loyalists in particular, avoiding an East Coast or European connection could make this a very appealing way to reach Greece.

Paris is still significant, especially for Atmos Rewards members and oneworld travelers, and five weekly flights should provide much better scheduling flexibility.

The other takeaway is that Alaska's international expansion is no longer an experiment. With Rome, London and Reykjavik already joining Tokyo and Seoul, followed by Athens and Paris in 2027, Alaska is clearly trying to turn Seattle into a major international connecting hub.

For points travelers, that means Atmos Rewards is becoming increasingly useful for Alaska-operated long-haul travel rather than simply being a great program for booking partner awards.

Flights are available for booking now.

Search Alaska Airlines flights

Sources

Alaska Airlines — Official Paris and Athens Announcement

Danny the Deal Guru — Alaska Airlines Announces New Nonstop Service to Athens and Paris