Alaska Airlines is going to Japan from Alaska. On Oct. 27, the airline announced the first nonstop service between Anchorage and Tokyo Narita. Flights start May 13, 2027. The catch? The plane is a narrowbody Boeing 737 MAX 8, not a widebody jet.
The route is subject to government approval. Intro fares start at $999 round trip, and that sale ends Oct. 31.
The schedule
Alaska says the route will run daily in the summer. It then drops to three flights a week in the winter, starting in January 2028.
| Flight | Dates | Departs | Arrives |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anchorage to Tokyo Narita | May 13 to Sept. 7, 2027 | 2:10 p.m. | 3:25 p.m. (next day) |
| Tokyo Narita to Anchorage | May 14 to Sept. 8, 2027 | 9:45 p.m. | 12 p.m. (same day) |
The westbound flight crosses the International Date Line, so you land the next afternoon. Coming home, you land in Anchorage at noon on the same calendar day you left Tokyo.
The $999 fare and its fine print
Alaska's intro fares start at $999 round trip. They are good for travel from May 13 to June 7, 2027. You must book by Oct. 31, 2026, and you must buy a round trip.
So the window to grab the launch price is only a few days long. After that, fares will be whatever Alaska charges on the day you book.
Why a 737 MAX 8?
A single-aisle jet across the North Pacific sounds bold. Alaska's own answer is simple. In its FAQ, the airline says the MAX 8 has longer range than the MAX 10. It is the only 737 in the fleet that can fly this route.
Alaska has about 20 MAX 8s, based on Lounge Frog's fleet data. A single-aisle jet means fewer seats than a widebody. That can make a thinner route like Anchorage to Tokyo easier to fill.
What you get on board
Alaska says First Class on the route includes:
- Priority boarding
- Recliner seats
- A multi-course meal that starts with a Signature Charcuterie plate
- Filson blankets and pillows
- A Filson amenity kit with Salt & Stone products
- Alaska Lounge access in Anchorage before departure
In Main and Premium Class, Alaska says every guest gets a free meal with a hot entrée and dessert, with vegetarian options. Premium Class also gets a free selection of West Coast drinks, both with and without alcohol.
Wi-Fi is free for Atmos Rewards members on select flights through T-Mobile. Alaska also says Starlink installation is under way across its MAX 8 fleet. The release does not promise Starlink on this route on day one, so don't count on it yet.
Three more new routes from Anchorage
The Tokyo flight is not Alaska's only Anchorage news. The airline is also adding Saturday-only flights from Anchorage to:
Those run from June 12 to Aug. 7, 2027. Alaska says the new routes give it the largest nonstop schedule from the state of Alaska in its history.
Why this matters
Alaska calls this a long-requested route. It is the airline's first-ever nonstop between Anchorage and Tokyo. It also turns Anchorage into a possible gateway for travelers in the Lower 48 who want to break up a trip to Asia.
There's an argument that this is a test. Alaska is using a small jet, a seasonal schedule and a short-lived intro fare. If the route sells, it could grow. If it doesn't, the airline hasn't bet a widebody on it.
"This long-requested route will open new opportunities for tourism and commerce," said Marilyn Romano, Alaska's regional vice president, in the release.
The bottom line
Nonstop Anchorage to Tokyo starts May 13, 2027, pending government approval. It flies on a 737 MAX 8, runs daily in summer and three times a week in winter from January 2028. Intro fares start at $999 round trip, but only if you book by Oct. 31.
