Alaska Airlines will launch the first nonstop service between Seattle and Athens in May 2027, creating a direct connection between Greece and the Pacific Northwest.
The seasonal route will begin May 12 and operate three times weekly through October aboard Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft. It will become the longest route Alaska Airlines has ever operated.
Flights will depart Seattle-Tacoma International Airport at 4:30 p.m. and arrive in Athens at 2:20 p.m. the following day. Return flights will leave Athens at 4:20 p.m. and arrive in Seattle at 6:55 p.m. local time.
The airline has assigned the route flight number AS196, a reference to 1896, the year Athens hosted the first modern Olympic Games.
The new service will also provide travelers from cities throughout Alaska Airlines’ extensive western network with connecting access to Athens through Seattle.
“We are thrilled to welcome Alaska Airlines’ decision to directly connect Seattle to Athens as of May 2027,” Athens International Airport CEO George Kallimasias said in the airline’s announcement.
Kallimasias said the new route will strengthen Athens’ growing connectivity with the United States and create “a new bridge for tourism, business, investment and trade between Greece and the U.S. West Coast.”
Alaska Airlines CEO Ben Minicucci said Athens has ranked among the destinations most frequently requested by members of the airline’s loyalty program.
“We fly where our guests aspire to go, and Athens and Paris have been high on that list for years,” Minicucci said. “As we build to more than 12 international long-haul routes from Seattle in the coming years, we’re giving travelers more ways to connect to the world.”
The Dreamliner aircraft serving Athens will include lie-flat suites in international business class, multi-course dining and upgraded amenities throughout the cabin. Complimentary Starlink Wi-Fi is also planned for members of Alaska’s Atmos Rewards program as installation continues across the fleet.
The Athens announcement is part of a major international expansion by Alaska Airlines. By the summer of 2027, the carrier plans to serve seven intercontinental destinations from Seattle: Athens, Paris, London, Rome, Reykjavík, Seoul and Tokyo.
