Alaska Airlines is launching nonstop flights to Tokyo and Seoul from Seattle next year as part of its plans to ride the wave of high-end travel demand.
The airline, which recently closed its acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines, expects to grow profits by $1 billion through 2027. To achieve this goal, Alaska will launch a new premium credit card with Bank of America, targeting high-spending customers.
Alaska’s first nonstop flights to Japan and Korea will operate on May 1 from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport to Tokyo’s Narita International Airport, and October next year from Seattle to Seoul’s Incheon International Airport. The airline plans to serve at least a dozen international destinations from Seattle using wide-body planes by 2030.
In addition to its global expansion, Alaska is also launching a new lounge at San Diego International Airport. The airline’s shares surged over 13% on Tuesday after it authorized a $1 billion share buyback and raised fourth-quarter earnings estimates.
Alaska’s Chief Financial Officer Shane Tackett said the airline is looking to upgrade its premium seat offerings to cater to growing demand for first-class seats. The airline will also be launching a new “premium” credit card with an annual fee of $395, targeting high-spending customers.
Despite some challenges in Boeing’s production, Alaska expects to receive more deliveries from the aircraft manufacturer in the coming months. Tackett said that quality is key for the airline and it will continue to work closely with Boeing to ensure its planes meet high standards.
Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2024/12/10/alaska-airlines-nonstop-flights-japan-korea.html