Alaska Air Group, the parent company of Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air, announced the launch of a new global gateway in Seattle amid its partnership with Hawaiian Airlines. This strategic collaboration allows international passengers to connect to more than 400 mainland U.S. cities through Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) when traveling with Hawaiian Airlines. “Our alliance with Hawaiian Airlines allows us to expand our international footprint in the Pacific Rim even further while delivering meaningful customer benefits,” said Ben Minicucci, President and CEO of Alaska Air Group.
The partnership is part of Alaska Air Group’s vision to create a West Coast hub in Seattle, enabling easier domestic connections for their passengers when flying internationally. With this new global gateway, passengers from Asia and the Pacific Islands can access a broader network of U.S. cities and vice versa. “This partnership removes barriers and creates indispensable traveler benefits like seamless connections and loyalty earnings across both Alaska and Hawaiian,” said Peter Ingram, President and Chief Operating Officer of Hawaiian Airlines.
As part of the initial route launch celebration, Alaska Air Group and Hawaiian Airlines unveiled recently announced, nonstop routes to Tokyo Narita (NRT) and Seoul Incheon (ICN). Customers traveling internationally on Hawaiian Airlines can now smoothly connect to more than 400 destinations across the continental United States. Hawaii’s flagship carrier has been serving customers since 1929, offering non-stop flights between Hawaii and several U.S. mainland cities. With the addition of these Seattle-based routes, Hawaiian Airlines continues to expand its North American reach in recent years. This significant enhancement further highlights the unique benefits of partnering with an airline like Alaska Airlines.
The collaboration between Alaska Air Group and Hawaiian Airlines means that passengers can now use miles on either airline’s loyalty programs, and Alaska Mileage Plan members can earn and redeem miles for flights operated by Hawaiian Airlines, including award travel to Hawaii. Furthermore, Hawaiian Miles members can also earn and redeem miles for award travel within the U.S. on Alaska Airlines flights. This two-way redeemability empowers frequent flyers to maximize their miles on both airlines and enjoy seamless connections.
As Southeast Asia’s neighboring country, South Korea proudly welcomes more than one million visitors annually from the United States. With the new route to Seoul Incheon, the number is expected to grow, benefiting not only the tourism industry but also promoting business growth in both countries. Additionally, Japan is one of the leading travel destinations in the Asia Pacific region and is a popular migrating country for many South Koreans. The introduction of a nonstop route to Tokyo Narita is expected to increase tourist numbers considerably, as both countries progress towards mutual engagement in both leisure and business activities.
In conclusion, this strategic partnership between Alaska Air Group and Hawaiian Airlines expands opportunities for travel between the U.S. cities and Asia-Pacific destinations. These new routes provide global travelers with enhanced connectivity, more convenience, and additional travel options along with the benefits of both airline’s loyalty programs, emphasizing the importance of seamless travel connections for customers. This new collaboration will undoubtedly support increased international passenger traffic, promote international tourism and cultural exchanges, and propel both airlines towards future growth opportunities.
