Routes Europe 2025 attendees Alaska Airlines, Delta Air Lines and WestJet are opening new European links over the coming weeks.
Seattle-London Heathrow
Fresh from making its European debut with flights to Rome, Alaska Airlines is moving into one of the most competitive transatlantic markets this summer with the launch of service between Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and London Heathrow Airport.
Flights begin May 21 and will operate daily using Boeing 787-9 aircraft, ahead of a third European route to Reykjavik launching on May 28. The expansion marks a rapid build-out of Alaska’s long-haul network from Seattle following its entry into widebody operations.
Unlike Rome—a large but previously unserved market from Seattle—London is already well established and intensely competitive. British Airways (BA) operates 2X-daily service on the route, while Delta Air Lines and Virgin Atlantic each offer daily flights.
Alaska’s entry will lift total capacity to nearly 19,000 two-way weekly seats by early June, according to OAG Schedules Analyser data. The airline is expected to hold about a 22% share of capacity, placing it behind British Airways (38%) but broadly in line with Delta (21%) and Virgin Atlantic (19%), signaling a meaningful commitment to the market from the outset.
Underlying demand remains strong. Sabre Market Intelligence data shows approximately 286,000 two-way O&D passengers traveled between Seattle and London in 2025, up 5% year on year. While 42% of traffic is point-to-point, about one-third connects beyond London, highlighting the importance of onward connectivity—particularly through Alaska’s Oneworld partner British Airways.
Securing access to London Heathrow was a key enabler. Alaska obtained a daily slot pair through a leasing agreement with American Airlines, overcoming one of the primary barriers to entry at the capacity-constrained airport.
The London launch forms part of a broader long-haul strategy. Alaska aims to serve at least 12 intercontinental destinations from Seattle by 2030, supported by plans to grow its 787 fleet to as many as 17 aircraft.
New York JFK-Olbia
Delta Air Lines is expanding deeper into the Mediterranean this summer with the launch of nonstop service between New York John F. Kennedy and Olbia, marking a strategic push into underserved premium leisure markets.
The 4,173-mi. (3,626-nm) route will begin May 20 and operate 4X-weekly using Boeing 767-300 aircraft. It will become the only nonstop connection between North America and Sardinia’s Olbia Costa Smeralda Airport.
The launch follows Delta’s “Route Race” competition, in which Olbia and Malta were selected from a shortlist of underserved island destinations. The Spanish island of Ibiza was also in the running to be served by the SkyTeam alliance member.
The Olbia route reinforces Delta’s continued focus on Italy, now its fastest-expanding European market. Between summer 2024 and summer 2026, the carrier has added more than 288,000 two-way seats between the U.S. and Italy, OAG Schedules Analyser data shows. For summer 2026, Delta plans to offer approximately 1.64 million seats in the market, up from 1.54 million in 2025 and 1.36 million in 2024.
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That growth sees Delta operate 15 nonstop U.S.-Italy routes this summer and hold a 27.9% share of capacity, ahead of United Airlines (22.4%) and American Airlines (22%).
From a network perspective, Olbia complements Delta’s broader Italian portfolio, which includes established gateways such as Rome, Milan and Venice. Unlike those year-round or high-frequency markets, Sardinia is a more seasonal, niche destination—one that aligns with Delta’s strategy of deploying widebody aircraft on thinner routes during peak summer months.
Alongside the Olbia launch, Delta will commence 3X-weekly flights between JFK and Malta International Airport (MLA) from June 7.
Toronto Pearson-Cardiff
WestJet is expanding its UK footprint this summer with the launch of a nonstop route between Toronto Pearson International Airport and Cardiff Airport, creating a new long-haul connection for the Welsh capital.
The service is scheduled to begin on May 22, operating four times per week using Boeing 737-8 aircraft. The route will become the first nonstop connection between Canada and Wales since 2008.
The launch comes as WestJet continues to build its presence across the UK. During the summer 2026 season, the airline will operate routes linking Calgary with Edinburgh and London Heathrow, Halifax with Edinburgh and London Gatwick, St. John’s with London Gatwick, and Toronto with Glasgow and Edinburgh, in addition to the new Cardiff service.
In total, the airline is scheduled to offer about 360,300 two-way seats between Canada and the UK this summer, giving it a 12.8% share of the market, according to OAG Schedules Analyser data.
While that places it behind Air Canada (48.2%) and British Airways (20.3%), it positions WestJet as a key secondary player alongside Air Transat (13.1%) and ahead of Virgin Atlantic (5.7%).
Alongside attracting point-to-point leisure and VFR traffic, WestJet will be aiming to tap into corporate demand. According to the Welsh government, there are about 35 Canadian companies in Wales, employing around 6,500 staff. Canada is also an export market worth more than £300 million ($409 million) a year.
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