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Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines Will Fly Nonstop From Seattle to Osaka and Tahiti From Spring 2027

Two new Pacific routes on lie-flat Airbus A330s start in May and June 2027, with sale fares from $999 for a limited time, subject to government approval.

Outspoken Digest Travel Desk

Tuesday, October 20, 2026/2 min read

A Hawaiian Airlines Airbus A330-200 parked at a gate at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu, photographed on 21 June 2024, a file photograph of the aircraft type and not of a new Seattle service
Photo: Zheng Zhou via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Seattle is about to get nonstop flights to the Pacific's two most contrasting holiday spots. Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines announced on 20 October that they will fly from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport to Osaka, Japan, from 14 May 2027 and to Papeete, Tahiti, from 11 June 2027, according to Alaska's announcement. Both routes are subject to government approval.

The airlines say they will be the only nonstop service between Seattle and either city, and Hawaiian will operate both on Airbus A330-200 aircraft.

When do the Seattle to Osaka and Tahiti flights start?

Seattle to Osaka (Kansai) starts on 14 May 2027 with four flights a week, on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, leaving at 12:10 p.m. and landing at 4 p.m. local time. The return begins on 15 May. Seattle to Papeete starts on 11 June 2027 with three flights a week, on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, departing at 11:55 p.m. Both run year-round, with times subject to change.

The Port of Seattle counts the pair as Alaska's third and fourth new international routes for 2027, after Athens on 12 May and Paris on 25 May. SEA currently offers 61 international nonstop services to 36 destinations on 29 airlines, the port said.

What is the onboard product and how much are fares?

The A330s carry lie-flat business class Suites, and Atmos Rewards members get free Starlink Wi-Fi provided through T-Mobile. The airline lists multicourse Asia-Pacific meals, amenity kits with the Hawaii lifestyle brand Noho Home for Suites and Premium Class guests, and nearly 200 new releases and classic movies plus 500 or more TV shows.

Introductory round-trip Main Cabin fares from Seattle start at $999 to Papeete and $1,199 to Osaka, subject to availability. The sale runs through 26 October on alaskaair.com and hawaiianairlines.com, so anyone tempted has only a few days to look.

How does this fit Alaska's wider plan?

The routes are part of a plan called Alaska Accelerate, which aims to serve at least 15 long-haul intercontinental destinations from Seattle by 2030. Seattle's existing long-haul list includes London, Tokyo, Seoul, Rome and Reykjavik, plus newly announced Athens and Paris, according to the airline. CEO Ben Minicucci said in the Port of Seattle's account: "We're just getting started, with more international destinations on the horizon."

Hawaiian has flown Honolulu to Osaka since 2011 and Honolulu to Papeete since 1987, and says it will keep both, so travellers can still connect through Honolulu. Alaska says Seattle to Osaka gives the shortest connecting path from many points in its network, and an expanded partnership with Air Tahiti offers same-day connections from Papeete to Bora Bora and Moorea. The thing to watch now is the government approval the airlines say is still required.

Published in The Outspoken Digest

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