I've flown on the Airbus jet Alaska will fly to Tokyo. It was a comfortable ride and I'm excited about the airline's new long-haul flights.
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- Alaska Airlines' merger with Hawaiian Airlines gives it access to long-haul Airbus and Boeing planes.
- The airline is pressuring mainline competition in Seattle with new nonstops to Asia in 2025.
- Japan's tourism boom makes it a strategic destination and I'm excited about the expansion.
Fresh off a $1.9 merger with Hawaiian Airlines, Alaska Airlines has big plans for using its new widebody planes with new routes to Asia.
The airline announced Tuesday plans to fly former Hawaiian Airbus A330 planes to Tokyo and Seoul from Seattle in 2025, utilizing operations infrastructure already in place under the newly acquired airline.
Seattle is a huge hub for Alaska, where it holds 55% of the domestic market — but its prior lack of overseas reach makes the Asia expansion a no-brainer.
Alaska chief commercial officer Andrew Harrison told The Points Guy that demand is stronger from Seattle than from Honolulu, where Hawaiian previously served Tokyo. Alaska can also take advantage of strong cargo and corporate demand from Seattle.
Leaving Seattle will also mean shorter flight times than from cities like San Francisco and Los Angeles, where United Airlines and American Airlines operate.
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The expansion will also put pressure on competing Delta Air Lines, which already flies nonstop from Seattle to both cities.
Delta has been investing in its Seattle hub for years as it tries to take advantage of the city's West Coast location and poach business.
But Alaska's new routes, which Harrison said will grow to 12 by 2030, are likely to maintain and grow Seattle locals' loyalty to Alaska — and those across the country who need more one-stop options to Asia.
Alaska's incoming A330s are nice but lack premium economy
I'm thrilled about Alaska's international expansion.
Seattle may be far from my local New York airports, but flyers now have more choice across the Pacific — and likely beyond, depending on where Alaska's next 10 routes will lead.
Alaska said the merger wouldn't lead to immediate changes on board Hawaiian's aircraft, meaning the A330 I flew on in economy to Honolulu in November 2023 will offer a similar experience to those flying to Japan in 2025.
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In my experience, the coach seats were well-padded, offered enough legroom for my five-foot-three-inch self, and had an adjustable headrest — a must for me to sleep in economy.
I also appreciated the rows were fit with only two seats on the sides closest to the windows. There were four in the middle sections.
My only gripe was the deep recline. While I loved the comfort it offered, it meant every passenger had to recline, or the person in front would cut into your space if you were sitting upright.
If you're inclined to rest or sleep, it's great. But if you want to sit more upright to watch a movie, expect to feel a little cramped and have a slightly annoying viewing angle to the screen.
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The planes do not offer premium economy, but Harrison said the aircraft would be retrofitted to add the popular cabin in the coming years.
Delta may earn business in the meantime thanks to having premium economy already installed on its A330-900neos flying from Seattle to Tokyo.
Alaska's Asia-bound planes could also change once Alaska gets more of Hawaiian's undelivered Boeing 787 aircraft.
Business class on these planes represents a significant upgrade to that of the A330s, which don't offer the same privacy or direct-aisle access.
Travel to Japan is breaking records
Japan makes sense as Alaska's first long-haul destination. The nation's fall foliage, cherry blossom season, shopping, and myriad cultural and historical sites make it a tourist hot spot.
A September report from Mastercard Economics Institute showed a 153% increase in visitors from the US to Japan in the first half of 2024 compared to the same time in 2019. Travelers from Canada increased by 148%.
CNBC reported that Japan expects 35 million total travelers by the end of 2024, representing a 10% increase from 2019.
Crowds are so high that Japan Airlines is pushing travelers to use a bag delivery service to send luggage straight from the airport to their hotel or accommodation instead of carrying them on the train.
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The boost is, in part, thanks to cheaper airfare — and Alaska's new route is likely to further lower prices out of Seattle.
Flights from the US to smaller Japanese cities have seen huge drops. Kayak data shows Sapporo fares are down 19%, Okinawa fares are down 17%, and Osaka fares are down 14% compared to 2023.
Japan Airlines' new free flight program may have helped, which comps domestic legs for many tourists who also book a roundtrip international flight to Japan on the same booking.
