American Airlines Starts a New Direct Flight to Tokyo

Flying to Tokyo from the U.S. just got easier. 

Alaska Airlines Group has a new direct flight connecting Seattle (SEA) and Tokyo (NRT). The 10.5-hour flight departs Seattle at 1:30 p.m. and arrives in Tokyo the next day at 4 p.m. 

Passengers will fly on an Airbus A330-200 equipped with amenities like Wi-Fi, in-seat power outlets, and personal entertainment. The flight will be operated by Hawaiian Airlines. (Alaska Airlines acquired Hawaiian Airlines in September 2024 and both carriers are operating under their individuals brands.)

“Hawaiian has been serving the Tokyo market for nearly 15 years,» Joe Sprague, CEO at Hawaiian Airlines, said in a statement obtained by Travel + Leisure. «We’re thrilled to open this new global gateway with Alaska, giving more Pacific Northwest travelers and beyond the opportunity to experience the award-winning hospitality that Hawaiian is known for.”

T+L spotted round-trip flights for as low as $612, or 37,500 miles, throughout the next several weeks. The cabin options on the flight include business class, premium economy, and economy. 

The extension from Seattle to Tokyo is the first move in Alaska Air Group’s international expansion plans. “Our growing fleet of widebody aircraft, which includes the flagship 787 Dreamliner, unleashes a world of possibilities of where we can fly to from Seattle. Looking ahead, we’ll have exciting additional milestones as we share the new international routes we’ll be launching in the coming years, including destinations in Europe, as part of our plans to serve at least 12 international destinations with widebody aircraft from Seattle by 2030,” Alaska Air Group CEO Ben Minicucci said in a statement.

Alaska Airlines previously alluded to expanding to Europe in 2026 recently when Minicucci said, “Europe is definitely on the radar for 2026.»

For now, travelers utilizing Alaska’s new service to Tokyo will have plenty to do. The city was previously named a top trending destination among tourists and is home to dozens of acclaimed hotels and resorts that welcome visitors from around the world. For example, Mandarin Oriental Tokyo, Conrad Tokyo, Grand Hyatt Tokyo, Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at Otemachi, and Aman Tokyo were voted as the top five hotels in Tokyo in T+L’s 2024 World’s Best Awards.