Delta Air Lines is expanding its international footprint from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) with two new long-haul European routes in direct response to Alaska Airlines’ plans to launch transatlantic service from the same hub.
Flights to Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCO) will commence on May 6, 2026, operating 4X-weekly, followed by a 3X-weekly service to Barcelona El Prat Airport (BCN) the next day. Both routes will be operated using Airbus A330-900 aircraft. The network additions will bring Delta’s transatlantic portfolio from Seattle to five destinations, complementing existing services to Amsterdam, Paris and London Heathrow.
The latest announcement forms part of a broader expansion strategy for Delta at SEA, which also includes the launch of a new 24,000-ft.2 Delta One Lounge and a renovated Delta Sky Club, as well as a new long-term lease agreement giving the airline priority access to 18 gates across Concourses A and B.
“Delta’s new international flights to Rome and Barcelona and two new lounges enhance our ability to be a welcoming port,” Port of Seattle Commissioner Fred Felleman says. “These efforts are good for travelers and enhance cultural exchanges that also benefit our vibrant region.”
The expansion comes as Delta seeks to solidify its position at SEA amid shifting competitive dynamics following Alaska Airlines’ acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines. The deal gives Alaska access to a long-haul widebody fleet for the first time, setting the stage for its debut transatlantic service—which will also be to Rome from May 2026. That launch, using Boeing 787-9 aircraft inherited from Hawaiian, will mark a strategic pivot for Alaska as it targets high-yield European demand from its largest hub.
Delta, meanwhile, continues to scale its footprint from SEA, offering an estimated 4.63 million departure seats in summer 2025, up 1% year-over-year, according to OAG Schedules Analyser. The addition of Rome and Barcelona—two major unserved European markets from Seattle—reflects Delta’s efforts to position SEA as a West Coast gateway to both Europe and Asia.
The competition around Rome is particularly notable. According to Sabre Market Intelligence, Seattle–Rome generated nearly 44,000 two-way passengers in 2024, making it the largest unserved European city from Seattle. Both Delta and Alaska are betting that strong VFR and leisure demand—along with growing premium traffic from Seattle’s tech and business sectors—can support nonstop service.
Delta’s new Barcelona route, meanwhile, adds pressure on Alaska to signal whether it intends to broaden its transatlantic ambitions beyond the initial Rome launch. Sabre data shows the Spanish city was Seattle’s second-largest unserved destination in Europe during 2024, with about 39,100 two-way passengers.
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