Alaska airlines wants to fly to more European cities, but flight attendants warn of understaffing concerns

Alaska Airlines has revealed plans to significantly expand its long-haul network from Seattle, with new nonstop services to Athens and Paris.

However, the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA) flight attendants working for the newly merged carrier have raised concerns that staffing levels on its Boeing 787-9 operation make its onboard service difficult to deliver.

Alaska Airlines launches flights from Seattle to Athens and Paris

Alaska Airlines has announced that it will launch seasonal flights from Seattle to Athens and Paris starting in May 2027. 

The Athens flights will operate three times weekly from May 12, while Paris will see five weekly services from May 25. 

Both routes will be operated by Alaska’s Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, which are already in use on its London Heathrow and Rome services.

Athens will become Alaska’s longest route when it launches, and the first nonstop connection between Seattle – or anywhere on the US West Coast – and the Greek capital. Paris will become Alaska’s fifth European destination from Seattle.

Ben Minicucci, CEO of Alaska Airlines, said the carrier was launching routes to where passengers “aspire to go, and Athens and Paris have been high on that list for years”.

Each of the new flight numbers has been chosen to honour the destination city. 

The service to Athens, flight AS196, pays homage to Greece’s capital as the birthplace of the modern Olympic Games in 1896. 

The new service to Paris, flight AS136, is a nod to the city’s renowned cultural scene, home to 136 museums.

Seven intercontinental destinations from Seattle… and counting

The additions will bring Alaska’s number of intercontinental destinations from Seattle to seven, alongside Reykjavik, Tokyo and Seoul. 

The carrier has said it intends to operate more than 12 international long-haul routes from Seattle in the coming years, with at least five additional intercontinental destinations planned by 2030. The locations of these have yet to be confirmed. 

Minicucci added: “As we build to more than 12 international long-haul routes from Seattle in the coming years, we’re giving travelers more ways to connect to the world and more opportunities to use Atmos Rewards.

“This global growth is possible because of the remarkable people across our airline who take care of our guests and deliver safe and reliable operations.”

Flights to Athens and Paris will be operated with Alaska’s Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, featuring the airline’s new long-haul international experience. 

Passengers in international business class will have access to lie-flat suites and multi-course dining curated by Alaska’s “award-winning food and beverage team”, with premium travel amenities in every cabin from West Coast-based brands Filson and Salt & Stone.

Staffing levels make it ‘impossible’ to deliver the service

However, the expansion comes as flight attendants represented by the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA) have raised concerns about the expansion plans for Alaska’s 787-9, the level of service offered to passengers and the crewing model that supports it.

AFA said the current cabin crew staffing levels make it “impossible” to deliver the service promised by the airline’s management. 

The union said Alaska management had introduced a 30-day observation period when Alaska-branded 787 international services began in April, with a commitment to gather feedback and improve the service. 

According to AFA, that period ended on May 28 without the changes it had sought being implemented.

Flight attendant union calls for action from Alaska Airlines

The union claims the current service model creates an “unsustainable pace” for crews and they say the company should either increase staffing or agree with flight attendants on service standards that reflect the resources available.

“At its core, this grievance is about one simple principle: If management expects a certain level of service, it must provide the staffing necessary to deliver it,” the grievance stated.

“They face a clear choice: increase staffing to meet their service goals, or work with our Inflight Service Committee to establish realistic service standards that actually reflect the staffing provided. Until they choose one, we will not accept being set up for failure.”

AFA has filed a formal grievance, alleging that management has failed to comply with provisions of the Hawaiian Airlines flight attendant collective bargaining agreement governing inflight service requirements. 

The dispute relates to pre-merger Hawaiian flight attendants operating Alaska-branded 787 services.

Aerospace Global News has reached out to Alaska Airlines for comment.