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Aeromexico, Alaska Airlines and American Airlines are rolling out a fresh wave of transatlantic services for 2025 and 2026, unveiling new and returning nonstop links to major European gateways including Rome, London, Edinburgh, Barcelona, Paris and Reykjavik as competition for long-haul leisure and business travelers intensifies.
Big Three Carriers Move in Sync on Transatlantic Growth
The latest schedule updates from Aeromexico, Alaska Airlines and American Airlines point to a coordinated push to capture rising demand for Europe, particularly during the peak summer season. Although the airlines have announced their plans separately, the combined effect is a notable expansion of nonstop capacity between North America and leading European capitals and tourism hubs.
The moves come as transatlantic traffic continues to outperform many analysts’ expectations, driven by strong leisure demand and resilient premium travel. By adding or reinstating links to cities such as Rome, London, Edinburgh, Barcelona, Paris and Reykjavik, the three carriers are positioning their hubs as convenient gateways to broader networks across Europe via alliance and codeshare partners.
For travelers in the United States and Mexico, the announcements translate into more nonstop options, shorter total journey times and additional opportunities to connect beyond primary hubs. The new and returning routes also underscore how North American airlines are using joint ventures and global alliances to extend their reach into secondary European markets that previously required multiple connections.
Alaska Airlines Bets on London, Reykjavik and Rome from Seattle
Seattle-based Alaska Airlines is preparing its most ambitious long-haul expansion yet, centered on transforming Seattle–Tacoma International Airport into a fully fledged global hub. The carrier has confirmed that it will launch daily year-round service between Seattle and London Heathrow in May 2026, operated by Boeing 787-9 aircraft equipped with lie-flat business-class suites, premium economy and refreshed main cabin seating.
Alongside London, Alaska plans new daily seasonal service from Seattle to Reykjavik’s Keflavik International Airport, also beginning in May 2026. Those flights will be flown with Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft during the long Icelandic summer, tapping into demand from adventure travelers and those using Reykjavik as a stepping stone into mainland Europe on partner airlines.
Rome is also on Alaska’s European map, with the airline preparing nonstop Seattle–Rome service from spring 2026. Together, the three routes mark Alaska’s entry into the transatlantic market and build on its long-haul push following the acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines. Seattle–London, Seattle–Reykjavik and Seattle–Rome will join existing transpacific services to Tokyo and Seoul as the airline steadily grows a widebody operation based in the Pacific Northwest.
Alaska is underpinning the expansion with a new global brand expression focused on its 787-9 fleet. The aircraft will feature a dedicated livery and upgraded onboard experience tailored to long-haul flying, reflecting the airline’s ambition to compete directly with established transatlantic players while feeding traffic from its extensive West Coast network and oneworld partners.
American Airlines Adds New Links to Edinburgh, Rome, Barcelona and Paris
American Airlines is reinforcing its position as a leading North American carrier to Europe with an expanded summer 2025 schedule that leans heavily into Mediterranean and UK demand. The airline is set to launch new nonstop service from Philadelphia to Edinburgh, offering daily Boeing 787-8 flights that connect one of its key East Coast hubs with Scotland’s capital and popular gateway to the Highlands.
In Southern Europe, American will add Miami–Rome service on a daily basis using Boeing 777-200 aircraft from July 2025, providing a direct link between South Florida and Italy’s capital timed for peak summer tourism. The route complements American’s existing Italian network and connects into partner services onward across the country.
The carrier is also extending and expanding several existing transatlantic services. Daily Dallas–Fort Worth to Barcelona flights, operated by Boeing 777-200 aircraft, will continue into the summer season, giving travelers from the central United States a nonstop option to Catalonia. American will further extend Miami–Paris Charles de Gaulle service using Boeing 787-8 aircraft, creating additional capacity to one of Europe’s most visited cities while leveraging onward connections on alliance partners throughout France and beyond.
These routes sit alongside American’s broader portfolio of more than 70 daily summer transatlantic departures, including seasonal links to cities such as Copenhagen, Naples and Nice. For North American travelers, the additions to Edinburgh, Rome, Barcelona and Paris deepen the menu of nonstop choices and create new one-stop itineraries to smaller European markets through codeshares.
Aeromexico Rebuilds Its European Network via Barcelona
Aeromexico is complementing the U.S. carriers’ growth by restoring its own transatlantic presence from Mexico City. The airline will resume flights between Mexico City and Barcelona on March 28, 2026, operating up to six times weekly with a mix of Boeing 787-8 and 787-9 aircraft during the summer season. The route, which previously operated before the pandemic, is slated to run through late October.
The return to Barcelona strengthens Aeromexico’s footprint in Spain, where it is also planning robust service to Madrid from Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey. Combined, the airline expects to mount up to 40 weekly frequencies to Spain in summer 2026, positioning itself as a key bridge between Mexico and the Iberian Peninsula for both leisure and corporate travelers.
By bringing back Barcelona, Aeromexico gives passengers a direct link into Catalonia’s capital and easy onward access to popular coastal resorts, the Pyrenees and broader European destinations via partners in the SkyTeam alliance. The move also reflects the carrier’s confidence in long-haul premium demand, as its 787 fleet offers lie-flat seating and upgraded cabins designed to compete for high-yield traffic on routes of more than 10 hours.
The Barcelona reinstatement follows wider network and product investment at Aeromexico, including refreshed cabins, enhanced onboard technology and broader codeshare activity with European partners. Together, these changes are intended to make Mexico a more accessible long-haul destination for European visitors while also giving Mexican travelers more one-stop options deeper into Europe.
More Choices to Europe and Tighter Alliance Connectivity
For passengers, the combined announcements from Aeromexico, Alaska Airlines and American Airlines mean a denser web of options across both sides of the Atlantic. New and returning routes to London, Rome, Edinburgh, Barcelona, Paris and Reykjavik improve access to some of Europe’s most visited cities, while also opening up more convenient one-stop itineraries to secondary markets via alliance partners.
On the U.S. side, Seattle and Philadelphia are emerging as especially important gateways in this latest wave of expansion, joining established hubs such as Dallas–Fort Worth and Miami. From Mexico, Mexico City remains the primary long-haul base, with Barcelona adding a second Spanish point alongside Madrid and anchoring broader connectivity throughout the region.
The three airlines are also leveraging their respective alliances to maximize the value of the new routes. Alaska’s membership in oneworld, American’s transatlantic joint ventures and Aeromexico’s role in SkyTeam all allow for coordinated schedules, reciprocal loyalty benefits and smoother connections across multiple carriers. As capacity comes online through 2025 and 2026, travelers can expect more ways to mix and match airlines, earn and redeem miles, and tailor itineraries that fit both budget and schedule.
With long-haul demand still trending upward and aircraft deliveries gradually recovering, industry observers expect further fine-tuning of transatlantic networks. For now, though, the latest slate of services to Rome, London, Edinburgh, Barcelona, Paris and Reykjavik underscores that Europe remains a central pillar of growth strategies for Aeromexico, Alaska Airlines and American Airlines alike.