New nonstop Seattle–Osaka flights start May 2027, Seattle–Papeete in June

Travellers heading to Japan or French Polynesia will get a new one-stop option from the United States next year. Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines announced on 20 October 2026 that they will launch year-round nonstop flights from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) to Osaka (KIX) and Papeete (PPT), the only nonstop services on both city pairs.

The routes will be operated by Hawaiian Airlines using its Airbus A330 fleet and are due to begin in spring 2027, with connections available across the two airlines' combined network.

Key facts

• Seattle–Osaka starts 14 May 2027, four times a week, year-round
• Seattle–Papeete starts 11 June 2027, three times a week, year-round
• Operated by Hawaiian Airlines on Airbus A330-200 aircraft
• Introductory round-trip Main Cabin fares from Seattle: from $1,199 to Osaka and $999 to Papeete, subject to availability
• Bookings open through 26 October 2026 at alaskaair.com and hawaiianairlines.com
• All new routes remain subject to government approval and schedules may change

When do the new routes start?

The Osaka service departs Seattle at 12:10 p.m. and arrives at 4 p.m. the following day, running four times a week on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays from 14 May 2027. The return leg from Osaka begins 15 May 2027, departing at 6 p.m. and arriving in Seattle at 12:20 p.m., operating on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

The Papeete service leaves Seattle at 11:55 p.m. and lands at 7:20 a.m., flying three times a week on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 11 June 2027. Return flights from Papeete start 12 June 2027, departing at 5 p.m. and arriving at 6 a.m., on Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays.

How much does it cost?

Special introductory round-trip Main Cabin fares from Seattle start at $999 to Papeete and $1,199 to Osaka, subject to availability. The offer runs from 20 October through 26 October 2026, and tickets are on sale at alaskaair.com and hawaiianairlines.com.

What is on board and on the ground?

Both routes will use Hawaiian Airlines Airbus A330 aircraft with lie-flat business class Suites, chef-curated Asia-Pacific dining, amenity kits and nearly 200 movies plus more than 500 TV shows. Starlink Wi-Fi is complimentary for Atmos Rewards members thanks to T-Mobile, and Suites passengers flying through Seattle-Tacoma International Airport get dedicated check-in and Alaska Lounge access.

What connections are available?

The airlines say the flights offer the shortest connecting path to Osaka from many points in their network, with access to the Kansai region including Kyoto, Nara and Kobe. For Tahiti, they will be the only U.S. airline offering same-day connections from Papeete to Bora Bora and Moorea, while an expanded partnership with Air Tahiti adds same-day connections to Rarotonga.

Hawaiian Airlines has served Osaka from Honolulu since 2011 and Papeete from Honolulu since 1987, and both routes will continue.

What this means for travellers

Passengers across the continental U.S. gain nonstop access to Osaka and Papeete via Seattle, including cities that currently need two or more stops to reach Tahiti. Anyone interested in the introductory fares should note the booking window closes 26 October 2026 and availability is limited.

The two routes are the eighth and ninth long-haul intercontinental services added to the airlines' Seattle network, which already includes London, Tokyo, Seoul, Rome and Reykjavík, plus newly announced Athens and Paris routes. Alaska Airlines' Seattle hub serves 103 nonstop destinations, and the company's Alaska Accelerate plan targets at least 15 long-haul intercontinental destinations from Seattle by 2030. Final schedules remain subject to change and government approval.