Alaska Airlines is flying to Europe for the first time — and the planes are getting a fresh look

Core Insights - Alaska Airlines is launching transatlantic flights for the first time, marking a significant expansion in its international routes following a $1.9 billion acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines [1][2] - The airline has introduced a new livery for its Boeing 787s, described as its "first-ever global livery," inspired by the northern lights and reflecting its transition to a global airline [9][10] Fleet Expansion - The acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines has added four Boeing 787 Dreamliners to Alaska Airlines' fleet, with an additional 13 on order, transitioning from single-aisle jets to wide-body aircraft [2] - The first Dreamliner flights will commence from Seattle to Seoul on September 12, with additional routes to Tokyo and Rome planned for early 2024 [2][4] New Routes - Alaska Airlines will begin service to Reykjavík, Iceland from Seattle in May, utilizing the Boeing 737 Max, marking it as the longest route operated by a US airline with such an aircraft [3] - By next spring, the airline will also offer daily, non-stop flights to London Heathrow using the Boeing 787, catering to a high-demand international market [4] Customer Experience - The Boeing 787's business class will feature fully lie-flat seats with privacy doors, enhancing the premium travel experience, which has become increasingly important post-pandemic [4][8] - The airline aims to attract new customers with its updated premium offerings, despite a slow recovery in overall travel demand [8] Livery Redesign - The new livery for the Boeing 787s features blue and cyan colors inspired by the northern lights, marking the first update since 2016 [9] - The redesign has led to the removal of the smiling Inuit character, Chester, from the livery of the Dreamliners, although he will still appear on most other Alaska Airlines jets [11]