New nonstop flights between Seattle and London aboard Boeing 787 Dreamliner

Alaska Airlines is now offering tickets to its fifth intercontinental destination from Seattle, with year-round flights to London set to commence on May 21. The daily service between Seattle and Heathrow will be operated by Alaska's widebody long-haul 787 Dreamliner aircraft.

Tickets to London are now available for purchase on alaskaair.com, with round-trip fares starting at $699. This new route is perfectly timed for summer travel in Europe, with flight times allowing guests to spend a full day in either city before boarding their flights. Alaska will operate out of London Heathrow's Terminal 3, facilitating seamless connections to additional destinations across Europe and beyond.

The expansion into the London market presents significant opportunities for Alaska Airlines, facilitated by its alliances with American Airlines and British Airways. This partnership is expected to deepen, offering even greater value and connectivity to consumers. With the addition of London to its route network, Alaska now offers flights to five intercontinental destinations from Seattle, including Rome, Reykjavik, Tokyo Narita, and Seoul Incheon.

• London Heathrow, United Kingdom: Daily, year-round flights beginning May 21
• Rome, Italy: Daily, summer seasonal flights beginning April 28
• Reykjavik, Iceland: Daily, summer seasonal flights beginning May 28
• Tokyo Narita, Japan: Daily, year-round flights that are now flying
• Seoul Incheon, South Korea: 5x weekly, year-round flights that are now flying

Alaska Airlines is committed to providing its guests with an exceptional travel experience with its 787-9 aircraft set to feature ultra-fast Wi-Fi by fall 2026, thanks to a partnership with T-Mobile and powered by Starlink. The airline currently has five Boeing 787-9 aircraft in its fleet.

By 2030, the airline plans to serve at least 12 intercontinental destinations from Seattle, with additional routes to be announced in the coming years.

Chartright Air Group welcomes the world’s first Bombardier Global 8000 jet

The world’s first Bombardier Global 8000 business jet has officially entered service with Canadian operator Chartright Air Group, marking a milestone in global aviation. Designed and manufactured in Canada, this cutting-edge aircraft underscores the nation’s position as a leader in advanced aerospace innovation. Chartright, which pioneered the introduction of the Bombardier Global 7500 to Canada’s fleet in 2021, now becomes the first operator globally to welcome the next-generation Global 8000.

Global 8000 Game-Changer

The Global 8000 boasts a maximum cruise speed of Mach 0.95, making it the fastest operational civilian aircraft since the retired Concorde. Paired with an impressive 8,000-nautical-mile range, the aircraft can connect key global cities nonstop, including routes like Toronto to Singapore, Vancouver to Dubai, and Montreal to Hong Kong. These features cater to an increasing demand for efficiency among business travelers and high-net-worth individuals seeking seamless international connectivity. The delivery underscores Bombardier’s legacy in aircraft manufacturing and Canada’s economic stake in the sector.

Bombardier Ecosystem

Bombardier supports a global fleet of over 5,100 business aircraft, serving clients across 68 countries. In Canada, the business aviation industry sustains approximately 14,800 direct aerospace manufacturing jobs, reflecting its critical role in the nation’s economy. The Global 8000’s launch reinforces this ecosystem, leveraging Canadian engineering expertise to set new benchmarks in speed and range.

For Chartright Air Group, the new jet represents not just a technological upgrade but a strategic advantage in a competitive global market. With its blend of Canadian ingenuity and operational excellence, the Global 8000 is poised to redefine long-haul business travel for years to come.

Flight cancellations set to begin Monday for Montreal-based airline

Air Transat has received a 72-hour strike notice from the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), the union representing the company's 700 pilots. 

The notice, issued on Sunday, has prompted Air Transat to initiate a gradual suspension of operations over the next three days to prevent the consequences of a sudden, unplanned interruption.

According to Julie Lamontagne, Chief Human Resources, Corporate Responsibility and Communications Officer at Air Transat, the strike notice is premature, given the progress made at the bargaining table and the company's generous offers. Air Transat has proposed several compromises and improvements that address the pilots' demands, including a 59% salary increase over five years and major improvements to pilots' working conditions.

Despite these efforts, ALPA has shown no openness, and the discussions have not led to an agreement. Lamontagne expressed regret that the union chose the path of a strike at this time of year, which she described as a "reckless decision" that does not reflect the state of negotiations.

As a result of the strike notice, Air Transat will begin planning for the cancellation of its flights and the repatriation of passengers, crews, and aircraft to prevent them from being stranded abroad if the strike occurs. Flight cancellations will begin progressively on Monday, with a complete suspension by Tuesday. A notice on Air Transat's website states the strike could formally begin on Wednesday, and operations will be disrupted until an agreement is reached.

The goal is to bring everyone back to their point of origin, the company said in a press statement.

Founded in Montreal in 1987, Air Transat has major hubs in Montréal-Trudeau International Airport and Toronto Pearson Airport.