Alaska Airlines to begin non-stop Seattle-Sydney flights?
A 15-hour direct flight between the two Emerald Cities could be on the cards...
By David Flynn, August 25 2025
Alaska Airlines is spreading its wings, with new international routes from Seattle to Seoul, London and Rome – and there’s a chance that Sydney could follow.
The ambitious expansion comes as the Oneworld carrier and Qantas partner gears up with a fleet of Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners.
Alaska Airlines plans to have a dozen international 787 destinations on the map by 2030, with a “growing fleet of up to 17 widebody 787 Dreamliner aircraft” based at “our new global gateway in Seattle.”
Alaska Airlines is planning for a dozen long-range 787 routes from Seattle.
Alaska Airlines’ Boeing 787s
As part of a US$1.9 billion takeover of Hawaiian Airlines – which will join Oneworld next year – Alaska Airlines will convert Hawaiian’s Boeing 787s into its own long-range fleet.
(This leaves Hawaiian stuck with its oldest Airbus A330s, which will be upgraded to include new business class and premium economy seats over the coming years.)
Alaska’s 787s are being decked out in a bold new livery, with iconic ‘Chester the Eskimo’ replaced by a dramatic representation of the Northern Lights.
Alaska Airlines' Boeing 787s will carry this bold new livery.
Inside retains the same Hawaiian configuration, crowned by 34 private flatbed suites with an 18” entertainment screen, wireless charging and direct aisle access.
The private business class suite of Alaska Airlines' Boeing 787s.
Those 787s are also fitted with free Starlink satellite Wi-Fi, with passengers reporting reliable download speeds eclipsing 100Mbps.
Alaska Airlines, non-stop from Seattle to Sydney?
With up to 17 Boeing 787s initially ordered by Hawaiian Airlines now to be based in Seattle, Alaska Airlines’ worldwide network is primed for dramatic growth.
Daily non-stop flights to Tokyo began in May this year, with Seattle-Seoul starting in mid-September.
London will see daily flights by northern Spring 2026, along with a seasonal service to Reykjavik and four flights per week to Rome.
“And even more international destinations are on the horizon”, the airline teases.
Could Sydney be on the shortlist?
The Boeing 787 is Qantas' long-range workhorse.
Fellow Oneworld member Qantas would certainly welcome the start of non-stop flights between Sydney and Seattle.
Seattle has long been on Qantas’ wish list, although the airline continues to face a crucial shortfall in planes – specifically the Boeing 787s which are already committed to the likes of London, Paris, Rome, Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, Dallas Fort Worth and Vancouver, among others
“We generally have 10 markets under analysis” at any time, Qantas International CEO Cam Wallace told Executive Traveller in mid-2024, “and five under deep analysis.”
Seattle remained a starter, Wallace confirmed, citing “a good relationship with” Alaska Airlines, “and they’re very keen for us to fly there.”
Seattle’s long-standing appeal spans from being the home of US high-tech titans to a hub for Arctic and Alaskan cruises, as well as the natural outdoor attractions of the Pacific Northwest, while Alaska Airlines would also provide a pipeline of inbound tourism to Australia.
The direct flights, which would take about 15 hours, would also be a valuable ‘monopoly route’ without a competitor.
20 Nov 2015
Total posts 604
I think there's a LOT of potential here. A great route for traffic in both directions, maybe four days a week.
05 Mar 2015
Total posts 441
Oh, I would so be up for this! I hate having to transfer at LAX, or even SFO for that matter. All the extra time and hassle and faffing around, collecting and rechecking luggage, changing terminals, getting a domestic business class seat or worse economy on the final leg to Seattle.
Stepping onto the Alaskan 787 at Sydney, nice private suites, have a nice meal, do some work with the fast free Wi-Fi, have a decent sleep for 7-8 hours, wake up to breakfast and then land at Seattle. Brilliant!
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
19 Jun 2019
Total posts 13
I’d prefer Qantas to use a 787 and do 4-5 per week to Vancouver and Seattle each, they complement and compete with each other too, SEATAC is a great airport, even partner or JSA with AS and have their plane fill the 3-4 days QF wouldn’t fly to make it daily if popular and gives their metal the route too for the company
20 Oct 2015
Total posts 279
Nice thought but Qantas simply doesn't have the aircraft for that. The 787s are already fully occupied. At best I think we could see a 'split schedule' where Vancouver is 4 days per week and Seattle is on the other three days, for example, but with the 787s fully committed already, it makes more sense for Alaskan to carry the weight on this and do a codeshare with Qantas.
United Airlines - Mileage Plus
20 Mar 2020
Total posts 5
Went through Seatac in July en route to Vancouver. It has a dedicated international arrivals facility that works a treat. Baggage collection here is before immigration so queue sizes are "pulsed" by baggage arrival from the plane making them shorter and carousels get cleared immediately by the awaiting pax which also adds to efficient use of resources. They even ecourage arriving pax to visit the bathroom whilst waiting for their bags. A useful distraction on the time to get bags from the plane.
The arrivals hall also has dedicated TSA security so transits are quickly released into the main terminal.
Used MPC and it was painless
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
13 Nov 2018
Total posts 144
It’s a pity they couldn’t go for the airbus A3 50 or something else other than the 787. I can’t say that any of the 787 configurations that I have been on, have been particularly comfortable for either business premium or economy. It’s certainly not my favourite aircraft.
.
On another note, this would be very welcome. Alaska’s lounge at SEA is really quite nice. And the staff were absolutely lovely. The domestic connections with Alaskan would make travel within the US more pleasurable than it currently is. I would choose Alaskan over any of the other North American carriers.
SEA is really quite nice. And the staff were absolutely lovely. The domestic connections with Alaskan would make travel within the US more pleasurable than it currently is. I would choose Alaskan over any of the other North American carriers.
It’s just a pity they keep ordering aircraft from Boeing, when Boeing tends to forget a couple of bolts and doors subsequently pop out in the middle of the Flight
I am no longer a Boeing fan. The following shows why.
If it’s a Boeing, I’m not going.
Who really wants to fly a Boeing seven late seven with big batteries that tend to spontaneously combust?
And don’t forget to 737 max 8 your life insurance.
22 Sep 2017
Total posts 113
I’m sure they get enough Boeing business travellers and employees’ personal use out of Seattle, that it would cost a chunk of volume if they bought Airbus planes.
17 Nov 2023
Total posts 72
Couldn't agree more!
29 Jan 2012
Total posts 219
Agreed - the 787 is rubbish and always has been since it's development but it is all Boeing can offer till it releases the 777-9 and hopefully this will be soon.
I would rather travel in a 20 yr old 777-3 any day over a 787-9. but then again I am only a passenger and not an airline executive looking at the bottom line.
03 Mar 2023
Total posts 54
Are we sure it would be Sydney? Boeing's Australian headquarters are in Brisbane, as is the largest air force base in the southern hemisphere at Amberley, so I wouldn't rule out a direct link to Seattle.
Singapore Airlines - KrisFlyer
17 Oct 2014
Total posts 24
Don’t forget Boeing’s headquarters are no longer in Seattle and are now in northern Virginia.
Hi Guest, join in the discussion on Alaska Airlines to begin non-stop Seattle-Sydney flights?