Alaska Airlines is preparing a major push into Europe with a new United Kingdom cargo partnership that will see Wexco Cargo GSSA appointed as its UK general sales agent, supporting the carrier’s first long haul cargo operations from London Heathrow and marking a significant evolution in its international growth strategy.

Alaska Airlines jet taking off from London Heathrow at dusk with cargo details.

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Alaska Airlines Sets Its Sights On Europe

Alaska Airlines, long associated with dense domestic and transborder coverage across North America, is moving to reposition itself as a more globally connected carrier by confirming plans for a fresh European footprint from spring 2026. Central to that strategy is the introduction of daily widebody services between London Heathrow and Seattle, transforming its Pacific Northwest stronghold into a transatlantic cargo and passenger gateway.

The London Seattle link, due to launch at the end of May 2026, will provide onward access to more than 100 destinations across Alaska’s network in North America, Hawaii, Central America and parts of the Asia Pacific region. For shippers and freight forwarders, it marks the first time that Alaska Airlines will offer long haul belly capacity sourced directly from the United Kingdom market, rather than relying solely on alliance and codeshare partners to provide European connectivity.

Alaska’s leadership has framed the move as the next step in a multi year plan to build “future global growth” by layering international opportunities on top of an already strong domestic and regional operation. The Europe strategy runs alongside the group’s broader ambitions following the combination of Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines under the Alaska Air Group umbrella, creating a carrier portfolio with deep roots in both the mainland United States and the Pacific.

Wexco Cargo GSSA Named UK General Sales Agent

To anchor its UK cargo presence, Alaska Airlines has selected Wexco Cargo GSSA as its dedicated general sales agent for the British market. Wexco, part of Netherlands based Kales Group, will assume responsibility for cargo sales, marketing and customer engagement in the UK from May 2026, in time for the start of the Heathrow Seattle operation.

The appointment places Wexco at the center of Alaska’s European cargo launch, with the company tasked with driving brand awareness, winning market share and ensuring that the carrier’s widebody bellies are profitably filled. Wexco’s remit includes targeted sales campaigns, close engagement with freight forwarders and shippers, and the use of real time data tools for capacity visibility, yield management and live performance reporting.

Executives on both sides have presented the agreement as a vote of confidence. Alaska Airlines has highlighted Wexco’s track record in developing new market entries and managing long haul capacity for a roster of international carriers at Heathrow. Wexco, in turn, has emphasized the significance of being chosen at what it calls a “pivotal moment” in Alaska’s growth plan, particularly as the airline transitions from being a predominantly North American operator into one with a more visible European presence.

Strategic Importance Of The UK Market

The United Kingdom is emerging as a cornerstone in Alaska Airlines’ evolving international blueprint. London Heathrow remains one of the most capacity constrained yet commercially attractive hubs in the world, with intense competition for slots but strong year round demand for both passenger and cargo services. By securing daily widebody operations into Heathrow, Alaska is positioning itself to participate directly in one of global aviation’s most prized corridors.

From a cargo perspective, the UK generates high volumes of time sensitive and high value goods, from pharmaceuticals and perishables to technology and aerospace parts. The ability to connect these flows directly into Seattle, and from there into secondary US and Canadian markets as well as Hawaii and beyond, creates a new option for shippers seeking alternatives to traditional European gateways such as Frankfurt, Amsterdam or Paris.

For Alaska Airlines, the UK move also complements its membership in the oneworld alliance and partnerships with European carriers that already link West Coast gateways with cities across the continent. By overlaying its own metal on the transatlantic sector, the airline can exert greater control over schedule design, capacity deployment and cargo pricing, while still feeding and receiving traffic from partner networks.

Building A Long Haul Cargo Platform From London Heathrow

The upcoming London Heathrow Seattle service is designed as more than a simple point to point route. Alaska Airlines is developing Seattle as a cargo gateway, with the new transatlantic leg feeding into an extensive domestic and regional network that reaches deeper into North America than many European long haul carriers can on their own. This, in turn, allows freight originating in the UK to move quickly to secondary cities without the need for multiple airline transfers.

Daily widebody frequencies give cargo customers consistent access to capacity, an important consideration for forwarders planning regular consolidations or large contracts. With Wexco handling sales and space management in the UK, Alaska can lean on local expertise to calibrate allocations, balance spot and contract business, and respond rapidly to changes in demand on both sides of the Atlantic.

Behind the scenes, Wexco’s data suite will provide real time insight into flown as booked performance, yields and load factors, enabling agile decision making as the new operation beds in. In a market as competitive as Heathrow, where carriers constantly adjust capacity and pricing, that kind of responsiveness is likely to be critical as Alaska builds its reputation among UK shippers and freight forwarders.

European Network Plans Beyond The UK

While the UK is the immediate focus, Alaska Airlines has flagged broader European ambitions tied to its 2026 plans. The airline has indicated that new routes from Rome in Italy and Keflavik in Iceland are also scheduled to join the network from mid 2026, broadening the range of cargo flows that can connect into its North American system.

Rome would add a key Southern European origin point, tapping into Italy’s strong fashion, automotive, industrial and perishables sectors. Keflavik, meanwhile, is strategically located on the North Atlantic great circle, already functioning as a technical and cargo waypoint for several transatlantic operators. For Alaska, linking these points into Seattle and other hubs promises a more diversified European cargo portfolio that is not solely reliant on the UK market.

The interplay between these new European spokes and Alaska’s existing US gateways is expected to evolve over time, particularly as Alaska Air Group integrates Hawaiian’s network and assesses where combined capacity can be leveraged most effectively. Markets in the Pacific, including Asia and Oceania, could ultimately benefit from bidirectional flows that see cargo move between Europe, North America and the Pacific region via a combination of belly capacity and connecting flights.

What The Deal Means For Shippers And Forwarders

For logistics providers and cargo owners in the UK, Alaska’s partnership with Wexco brings another full service carrier option into an already dynamic market. Wexco’s presence at Heathrow, coupled with its experience representing other international airlines, should translate into familiar points of contact for forwarders looking to test new routings or diversify their carrier mix.

The daily Heathrow Seattle operation will particularly appeal to customers with strong US Pacific Northwest, Alaska and Western Canada footprints. Industries such as technology, aerospace, seafood, e commerce and pharmaceuticals that already move significant volumes through Seattle and nearby gateways may see the new capacity as an opportunity to streamline routings and reduce transit times by cutting down on intermediate hubs.

Beyond pure uplift, Alaska and Wexco are positioning their offering as a premium, data driven service. That includes granular visibility on available capacity, proactive communication about schedule or disruption events, and detailed performance reporting that larger shippers increasingly demand as part of long term contracts. For UK customers accustomed to dealing with long established transatlantic carriers, that level of transparency and tailored engagement may become a differentiating factor as the service ramps up.

Competitive Context In The GSA And Transatlantic Markets

The appointment of Wexco as Alaska Airlines’ UK GSA also reflects a wider trend in which carriers turn to specialist general sales agents to accelerate market entry, manage costs and tap into ready made local expertise. Across Europe and beyond, airlines from full service legacy brands to new entrants have recently expanded or reshaped their GSA relationships as they fine tune post pandemic networks.

In the UK specifically, Heathrow has seen a cluster of new or renewed GSA arrangements in recent years as airlines seek leaner commercial footprints on the ground while still maintaining a strong sales presence. For Wexco, adding Alaska to its portfolio reinforces its position as a key player in the British GSA landscape, following similar partnerships with other international carriers and the recent extension of its collaboration with China Airlines.

On the transatlantic front, Alaska will be competing for cargo against heavyweight alliances and standalone carriers that already offer deep schedules between the UK and major US hubs. However, its strategy hinges on differentiation rather than pure scale, leveraging Seattle as a specialized gateway and leaning into niche strengths such as strong coverage of secondary West Coast and Pacific markets and, through its group structure, unique access to Hawaii.

Operational Timeline And Next Steps

Under the current plans, Wexco’s mandate as Alaska Airlines’ UK GSA will begin in May 2026, coinciding with the start of long haul cargo operations from London Heathrow. In the run up to that date, both organizations are expected to work closely on market preparation, including capacity planning, pricing frameworks, account targeting and systems integration to ensure that bookings and data flows run smoothly from day one.

Securing and finalizing operational details at Heathrow, including slot timings, ground handling and belly cargo processes, will be another key focus as Alaska prepares to enter a highly congested airport environment. While the airline has not announced a wider slate of European destinations beyond Rome and Keflavik at this stage, executives have consistently framed 2026 as a foundational year that will test and refine its approach to transatlantic flying and cargo.

As that rollout unfolds, industry watchers will be looking for indications of how quickly Alaska can build load factors, how aggressively it will price relative to competitors, and whether its distinctive network strengths in North America and the Pacific translate into sustained cargo demand from UK and European shippers.

FAQ

Q1. What exactly has Alaska Airlines announced regarding its UK and European plans?
Alaska Airlines has confirmed that it will launch daily widebody services between London Heathrow and Seattle from the end of May 2026 and has appointed Wexco Cargo GSSA as its United Kingdom general sales agent to support its entry into long haul cargo operations and a broader expansion into Europe.

Q2. Who is Wexco Cargo GSSA and what will it do for Alaska Airlines in the UK?
Wexco Cargo GSSA is a UK based general sales agent that is part of Kales Group. It will manage Alaska Airlines’ cargo sales, marketing, customer engagement and key commercial functions in the UK, including capacity visibility, yield management and performance reporting for the Heathrow Seattle operation.

Q3. When will the new London Heathrow to Seattle service begin?
The new daily widebody service linking London Heathrow and Seattle is scheduled to start at the end of May 2026, aligning with the start of Wexco’s formal role as Alaska Airlines’ UK cargo sales representative.

Q4. Why is the UK market so important for Alaska Airlines’ cargo strategy?
The UK, and London Heathrow in particular, is one of the world’s most significant aviation markets, generating strong demand for high value and time sensitive cargo. For Alaska, having its own presence there opens direct access to UK origin and destination freight that can be funneled through Seattle into a wide North American and Pacific network.

Q5. How will this partnership benefit UK shippers and freight forwarders?
UK shippers and forwarders gain a new daily widebody option from Heathrow into Seattle, with onward connections to more than 100 destinations across North America and the Pacific, supported by a locally based GSA that offers targeted sales support, real time capacity information and responsive customer service.

Q6. Is Alaska Airlines planning additional routes in Europe beyond London?
Yes. Alaska has indicated that it plans to add routes from Rome in Italy and Keflavik in Iceland from mid 2026, creating further European entry points that will feed into its North American network alongside the UK operation.

Q7. How does this move relate to Alaska Air Group’s wider business, including Hawaiian Airlines?
The European expansion, including the UK partnership with Wexco, is part of Alaska Air Group’s effort to leverage the combined strengths of Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines, using Seattle and other hubs to connect traffic between Europe, North America, Hawaii and the broader Pacific region.

Q8. What type of cargo is expected to move on the Heathrow Seattle route?
The route is expected to carry a mix of general cargo and higher value commodities such as pharmaceuticals, perishables, technology products, aerospace components and e commerce shipments, connecting UK manufacturers and distributors with markets across the US, Canada and the Pacific.

Q9. Will Alaska Airlines rely only on Wexco for its European sales activities?
In the UK, Wexco will act as Alaska’s dedicated general sales agent, but across Europe the airline will also continue to use its own teams and collaboration with partners and alliances as it adds routes from other countries such as Italy and Iceland.

Q10. How can industry stakeholders prepare for Alaska’s entry into the UK long haul cargo market?
Shippers and forwarders can begin by engaging with Wexco’s commercial team to understand anticipated schedules, capacity and pricing, review their routings into the US West Coast and Pacific region, and evaluate where Alaska’s new Heathrow Seattle link might create faster or more efficient options for their supply chains.