Alaska Air Cargo launches London-Seattle route

Alaska Air Cargo has launched a daily cargo service between London Heathrow and Seattle, marking the carrier’s entry into a new transatlantic freight corridor linking the United Kingdom with the Pacific Northwest and onward destinations across Asia, Alaska and the U.S. West Coast. The service commenced on May 21 and will operate year-round using Boeing 787-9 aircraft.

The new route expands the carrier’s international cargo footprint through Seattle, which now connects to more than 100 destinations nonstop. The airline said the hub includes daily widebody operations to Tokyo, Narita, Seoul, Incheon, and Honolulu, along with freighter services connecting Seattle with destinations across Alaska. The airline also operates multiple daily widebody services between Seattle and Honolulu, allowing cargo connectivity to Sydney, Osaka, and Tokyo (Haneda).

The London launch follows the start of Alaska Airlines’ Seattle-Rome service in April. The airline stated that the Rome route had already begun generating cargo demand, including shipments of Pacific Northwest clams to Italy and espresso machines moving into Seattle from Europe. Freight arriving in Seattle from Europe is also being distributed onward to Los Angeles, San Francisco and Vancouver.

“We are excited for our customers to see where we fit into the global supply chain,” said Ian Morgan, Alaska Airlines vice president of cargo and a London native. “With this expansion, we can connect from Japan or South Korea to Europe via Seattle while still serving cargo needs throughout the West Coast and more remote places like Hawai‘i and communities in the state of Alaska that no one else can serve like we can.”

The carrier said freight forwarders in London have shown interest in using the route for shipments including seafood, automotive components, motorcycles and products linked to the health and wellness sector. The company’s cargo sales and services in the United Kingdom are being managed by Wexco Cargo GSSA.

“We are seeing enquiries for a diverse set of commodities, courtesy of Alaska’s wide cargo network, which has been well received by the local market,” said Des Vertannes, managing director of Wexco Cargo GSSA, which handles our cargo sales and services in the U.K. “The daily schedule from London into Seattle is key, as it will organically develop the hub into a truly global gateway.”

Vertannes also pointed to opportunities related to media and broadcasting cargo linked to the FIFA World Cup, with Seattle serving as one of the host cities for this summer’s tournament. “One of the more interesting profiles brought into scope with the combination of the launch timing and the fact Seattle is home to one of the host stadiums for this summer’s World Cup will be the import of studio, television and video equipment from the U.K.,” he said. “An exciting potential niche to start!"

The airline said it plans to continue expanding its international network over the coming years. New nonstop services from Los Angeles to Guatemala and Costa Rica are expected later this summer. Alaska Airlines said it aims to operate at least 12 long-haul international destinations from Seattle by 2030 and plans to expand its fleet to 550 aircraft by 2035, including additional widebody aircraft.

In 2024, Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines will combine their operations. The group stated that together their cargo networks now reach more than 110 destinations globally, including markets in Asia, the South Pacific, Europe and the Americas. The airlines said their combined operations are supported by decades of experience in cold-chain logistics and freight connectivity to remote communities.

“From the U.K. and Europe, when you're looking at those Asian Pacific connections, you naturally look east,” Vertannes said. “So, to have Seattle as a hub and Alaska Airlines is a novel option. We now have a new direction, new routes to explore and a new focal point.”