Alaska Airlines launches nonstop flight from Seattle to Rome

SEATTLE — Alaska Airlines will launch nonstop flights between Seattle and Rome next year, continuing its global expansion and directly connecting the two cities via nonstop flight for, the airline says, the “first time in history.”

The new route — which will take off next May — is the third new destination Alaska has announced since December, when it embarked on an ambitious strategic plan to become a Trans-Pacific carrier.

With Seattle at the center of its expansion plans, Alaska has already announced two new nonstop flights from the Emerald City to Tokyo-Narita and Seoul, South Korea.

Alaska Airlines CEO Ben Minicucci said in a statement that Rome had been at the top of the carrier’s expansion list.

“Serving Rome nonstop from Seattle is a dream come true,” he said. “Our guests have b