The Seattle-based airline announced the changes as part of their “Alaska Accelerate” plan ahead of their investor day on December 10, 2024.
New Changes Adds Japan and Korea Routes, More Premium Seats, and Credit Card
The Accelerate plan envisions adding at least $500 million in “acquisition synergy” by 2027, while adding 12 international widebody destinations by 2030. One of the biggest changes is the addition of two trans-Pacific routes launching in 2025.
In May 2025, the airline will launch daily nonstop service between Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) and Tokyo Narita Airport (NRT), operated aboard Airbus A330 aircraft. Tickets for those flights are now on sale on both the Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines websites. Five months later, Alaska will add service between Seattle and Seoul Incheon Airport (ICN), with sales beginning in early 2025.
The passenger experience will also be a big part of the airline’s growth plan. For the Boeing narrowbody fleet, the airline premium seat mix will increase to 29%. The widebody fleet will also get an expanded premium cabin, with the exact number of seats to be announced. The airline will also continue to expand their lounge program by opening spaces in San Diego International Airport (SAN) and Honolulu Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL), along with a flagship international lounge in Seattle by 2027.
Loyalty will also take a prominent position in their future growth plan. Alaska has launched a Hawaiian-centric loyalty program in Huaka‘i by Hawaiian, which will offer benefits for flyers traveling between the Hawaiian Islands. To join, members must live in Hawaii and be a member of HawiianMiles.
Flyers will also get an upgraded credit card offering in the new year. The to-be-named premium card will offer global companion award certificates, waived award ticket fees, and 3X miles on all eligible foreign purchases, eligible dining purchases, unique currency flexibility and same-day confirmed fee waivers. Flyers can sign up for information about the card today and earn up to 5,500 MileagePlan miles: 500 for pre-registering by December 31, 2024, and 5,000 miles for signing up for the card – all in addition to new account bonus offers.
Overall, the airline is expected to spend $1.5 billion in capital expenditures on the plan in 2025, while increasing capacity by as much as 3%.
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Feature image courtesy: Alaska Airlines
Source: frugal travel guy