Alaska Airlines to lease London Heathrow slots from American Airlines
The slot lease begins on May 22, 2026.
Airport Coordination Limited (ACL), a United Kingdom-based slot coordinator, has disclosed that while Alaska Airlines failed to get slots at London Heathrow Airport (LHR) during the normal allocation process, the carrier will lease slots from American Airlines to launch flights to the airport.
In a slot transaction that was unveiled on December 4, 2025, ACL disclosed that American Airlines will lease two daily slots – for one takeoff and one landing – to Alaska Airlines, which has planned to launch flights from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) to LHR.
The slot swap request form detailed that Alaska Airlines will lease the slots from May 22, 2026, to October 24, 2026, operating daily Boeing 787-9 flights from SEA to LHR.
The arrival and departure times, which could be placeholders, are 14:05 and 16:00 UTC, respectively.
Cirium’s Diio Mi already indicated that American Airlines has scheduled one fewer weekly departure from the United States to LHR, cutting one daily flight between Miami International Airport (MIA) and LHR from May 22, 2026.
As a result, American Airlines will have 21 weekly departures to LHR between late May 2026 and October 2026, compared to 22 weekly flights in April 2026. It remains unclear whether the lease will extend into the winter 2026/207 season, or Alaska Airlines will attempt to obtain slots at LHR for its year-round service through the normal slot allocation process or another lease from American Airlines or another carrier.
When Alaska Airlines announced its SEA-LHR service on August 13, it said that flights to the British capital are “scheduled to begin flying in Spring 2026,” with the airline offering “daily, year-round service” to LHR.
Describing it as one “of the most sought-after international destinations and business markets,” the airline noted that it would serve the route with its 787-9 aircraft that have 34 enclosed suites with fully lie-flat seats.
“Alaska’s expansion into the London market, facilitated by strengthened collaborations with American Airlines and British Airways, presents significant opportunities. These alliances are expected to deepen over time, offering even greater value and connectivity to consumers.”
Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, and British Airways are part of the oneworld airline alliance.
The same August 13 announcement included the reveal of its new 787-9 livery, which will feature on all of its aircraft of the type “by spring,” it stated.
When ACL initially announced the initial coordination report for LHR for the upcoming summer 2026 season, it indicated that Alaska Airlines had requested 312 slots at the airport and received none. American Airlines did not request any additional slots at the airport.
Cirium’s Diio Mi showed that Alaska Airlines will join three other airlines flying between SEA and LHR: British Airways, Delta Air Lines, and Virgin Atlantic. British Airways has scheduled double-daily departures on the route during the summer 2026 season, while both Delta Air Lines and Virgin Atlantic have planned daily flights from SEA to LHR.
Rytis Beresnevicius
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