Alaska Airlines Adds Premium Economy and More Business Class
Alaska Airlines said it is adding premium economy seats and business class suites to its Boeing 787s and select transcontinental routes operated on its 737 Max 10s, betting that high-spend travelers will continue to drive most of the industry's profits. After closing its merger with Hawaiian Airlines in 2024, the carrier has pushed forward with a strategy to become a full-service international carrier, already flying several routes to Europe and Asia from its Seattle hub and having launched international business class seats earlier this year. At the same time, the carrier has been hit particularly hard by surging fuel prices given its heavy West Coast presence; its CEO said fuel costs wipe…
Impact and considerations
The premium-cabin expansion signals Alaska's post-merger push to compete for high-yield business travelers and reposition as a full-service international carrier, potentially affecting premium cabin supply and corporate travel options on transcontinental and international routes from its Seattle hub.
Key points
- Alaska Airlines is adding premium economy seats and business class suites to its Boeing 787s and select transcontinental routes operated on its 737 Max 10s.
- The carrier is betting that high-spend travelers will continue to drive most of the industry's profits.
- After closing its merger with Hawaiian Airlines in 2024, Alaska has pushed forward with a strategy to become a full-service international carrier.
- The carrier already flies several routes to Europe and Asia from its Seattle hub and launched international business class seats earlier this year.
- Surging fuel prices have hit the carrier particularly hard given its heavy West Coast presence.
- Its CEO said fuel costs wiped out profit in the first half of the year, and the carrier suspended guidance for 2026.
Sources and time
- Primary source
- Skift
- Other sources
- 0
- First source publication
- 29 Sept 2026, 20:00
- Page published
- 29 Sept 2026, 20:19
- Last updated
- 29 Sept 2026, 20:00
- Original links
- Skift Feed：Alaska Airlines Adds Premium Economy and More Business Class — Can It Catch Up to the Big 3? (opens in a new tab)Primary source · en · Published 29 Sept 2026, 20:00