Alaska Airlines is starting 2026 with its biggest announcement so far. The airline has placed a historic order for 110 new Boeing aircraft to fuel its global expansion. Alongside the order, Alaska revealed a new “Global Livery” featuring an Aurora Borealis theme, signaling its transition from a regional carrier to a global player.

This massive investment secures the airline’s future fleet through 2035. For travelers and Atmos Rewards members, this means newer planes, more reliable schedules, and most importantly, more long-haul routes from the West Coast to Europe and Asia.

Let’s look at a breakdown of the order and what the new look means for your future flights.

Key Takeaways

  • The Order: Alaska ordered 105 Boeing 737-10s and 5 Boeing 787-10 Dreamliners.
  • The Livery: A new “Global” paint scheme features the Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights) in deep blues and emerald greens.
  • International Growth: The fleet expansion supports a goal of 12 international destinations from Seattle by 2030.
  • New Routes: Confirmed service to London (LHR), Rome (FCO), and Reykjavik (KEF) starts in Spring 2026.
  • Capacity Boost: The move to the larger “-10” variants (both 737 and 787) means more seats and likely larger premium cabins.

The Historic Boeing Order

Alaska Airlines is doubling down on its partnership with Boeing. The order focuses on the largest variants of Boeing’s narrowbody and widebody families, prioritizing passenger capacity and fuel efficiency.

The Order Breakdown:

Aircraft Type Firm Order Options Purpose
Boeing 737-10 105 35 Domestic high-density routes & efficiency.
Boeing 787-10 5 - Long-haul international expansion.

The Boeing 737-10 is the largest version of the MAX family. Alaska already has orders for this type, bringing their total commitment to 168 aircraft. These planes will likely replace older jets and support growth on busy domestic routes.

The Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner order is particularly interesting. Alaska inherited 787-9s from its merger with Hawaiian Airlines. By ordering the larger 787-10, Alaska is sacrificing a small amount of range for significantly more seats. This suggests these planes will be used on high-demand routes to Europe and Asia where passenger volume is higher.

Alaska Airlines Boeing 737-10 New Global Livery

The New Global Livery

To mark this new era, Alaska unveiled a special livery on one of its new Boeing 787-9s. While the iconic “Chester” (the face on the tail) remains, the rest of the aircraft has been reimagined.

The design is inspired by the Aurora Borealis. It features a gradient of deep midnight blues and lush emerald greens, sweeping from the nose to the tail. It reportedly took artists nearly 1,000 hours over 13 days to paint.

You will spot this livery primarily on the widebody fleet (787 Dreamliners) flying international routes, while the standard livery will remain on most domestic narrowbody aircraft.

Alaska Airlines new Aurora Borealis themed global livery on a Boeing 787-9.
Alaska Airlines new Aurora Borealis themed global livery on a Boeing 787-9.
Alaska Airlines new Aurora Borealis themed global livery on a Boeing 787-9.
Alaska Airlines new Aurora Borealis themed global livery on a Boeing 787-9.

Where Will These Planes Fly?

This fleet isn’t just for show. The airline has stated a goal of operating at least 12 long-haul international destinations from Seattle (SEA) by 2030.

Confirmed Upcoming Routes (Spring 2026):

  • London Heathrow (LHR): Daily, Year-round (Starts May 21, 2026)
  • Rome (FCO): Daily, Summer Seasonal (Starts April 28, 2026)
  • Reykjavik (KEF): Daily, Summer Seasonal (Starts May 28, 2026 - operated by 737-8)

These join the existing services to Tokyo (NRT) and Seoul (ICN). With the new widebodies coming online, rumors suggest future destinations could include major hubs like Paris, Lima, or even Auckland.

What This Means for Atmos Rewards (ex-Mileage Plan)

For loyalty members, more widebody aircraft is great news!

  1. More Premium Seats: The 787-10 is a big aircraft. It allows Alaska to install a large Business Class cabin (likely the new suites) and a substantial Premium Economy section. This increases the total supply of premium seats available for upgrades and awards.
  2. Global Reach: You can now earn and redeem Atmos Rewards points on Alaska metal to Europe and beyond, rather than relying solely on partners like British Airways or American Airlines.
  3. Better Reliability: A younger, standardized fleet generally experiences fewer mechanical delays, meaning your travel plans are safer.

How to Find Awards on the New Routes

With new routes launching in May 2026, award seats will be in high demand.

  1. Use AwardFares Timeline: Search for SEA-LHR or SEA-FCO in the Timeline view to spot which days have availability.
  2. Set Alerts Now: Even if the flight is months away, plans change. Set a Live Alert for your preferred dates. If Alaska releases more seats or someone cancels, you will be the first to know.

Search Alaska Airlines Awards →

Read More