Delta vs Alaska Airlines: Seattle-Rome Flights 2026 Head-to-Head

A head-to-head battle is heating up between the two main airlines that operate from Seattle hub in Washington state. Less than 2 weeks after Alaska Airlines’ announcement comes Delta’s, which will also start flying between Seattle and Rome Fiumicino.

Delta Air Lines Seattle-Rome Flights: May 6, 2026 Launch Date Confirmed

Almost in response to Alaska Airlines’ announcement comes Delta’s. Both airlines plan to launch flights from Seattle to Rome Fiumicino in 2026.

We don’t yet know exactly which will be the first to fly the route. We currently have only Delta’s launch date but not Alaska Airlines’ yet.

Both Alaska and Delta use Seattle-Tacoma as their reference airport in the US Northwest. That’s why Delta couldn’t allow its main rival in Seattle to have a monopoly on this route.

Delta Seattle-Rome Schedule: 4 Weekly Flights with Airbus A330-900neo Details

Delta Air Lines will use, unlike other Italian routes, one of the best aircraft in its fleet: the Airbus A330-900neo.

This is the new generation A330 that is rapidly becoming a backbone of Delta’s long-haul operations, complete with the airline’s most modern cabin interiors.

The Delta Airbus A330neo are configured with 3 travel classes featuring:

• 29 Business Class Seats – Delta One – in 1-2-1 layout
• 28 Premium Economy Seats – Premium Select – in 2-3-2 layout
• 224 Economy Class Seats – in 2-4-2 layout

Quick Notes on the 3 Travel Classes on Delta’s Airbus A330neo

There are two points to make about Business Class and Economy Class on this Delta Airbus A330-900.

In business class, the seats are Delta One, but not Delta One Suites. The suites are the flagship product, offering greater comfort and also a sliding door for a superior level of privacy. Delta One doesn’t have the door, but remains extremely comfortable nonetheless.

In economy class, instead of those 224 seats, there are some in the front part of the class that have more legroom. These are sold at a higher price and called Comfort+. In total, there are 56 Comfort+ seats.

Seattle-Rome Flight Times: Delta vs Alaska Airlines Departure Schedules 2026

Delta’s new flight launch date will be May 6, 2026. We’ll see in a few months, once Alaska Airlines’ date arrives, which of the two will be first to launch the flight. Regarding schedules, we don’t have news about this yet. Delta announced the flight but hasn’t released information in this regard. This signals that some government approvals are still missing.

In terms of frequencies, the information available to us is also incomplete. We know that Delta’s new Seattle-Rome flight will have 4 weekly frequencies, but we don’t know on which days of the week. It seems certain however that it will be a seasonal flight.

How Much Will Seattle-Rome Flights Cost? Delta vs Alaska Airlines Pricing

Well, much depends on what Alaska Airlines puts on the table. We know that Alaska will use a Boeing 787, but how will it be configured? What traveler demographic will it want to attract? If they go into direct competition for the same traveler demographic, Delta is a tough opponent.

I think however that this might not be the scenario. Alaska Airlines could work, with a more basic product, on pricing with more competitive offers, allowing the two carriers to coexist on the route.

Alaska Airlines vs Delta Seattle-Rome: Schedule and Operational Details

Alaska Airlines:

• Days: Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Sunday
• Seattle departure time: 6:00 PM → Rome arrival 1:45 PM (+1)
• Rome departure time: 3:45 PM → Seattle arrival 6:00 PM
• Aircraft: Boeing 787-9 with new Alaska international cabin

Delta Air Lines:

• Days: To be determined (4x weekly)
• Schedule: To be announced
• Aircraft: Airbus A330-900neo

Why Rome Fiumicino? Largest Unserved European Destination from Seattle

Starting with Alaska Airlines, Rome is one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations. For launching its first transatlantic flight, Alaska played it safe by leveraging the huge traffic it can aggregate at Seattle hub.

For Delta, it seems to me that launching the new Seattle-Rome flight is a response to its rival. The monopoly on such a destination couldn’t be left unchallenged.

What It Means for Travelers: More Choice and Competitive Fares

The fact that there will be two airlines in 2026 flying between Seattle and Rome Fiumicino is undoubtedly a positive aspect for travelers. More airlines active on a route, assuming they’re not completely aligned (through alliances and joint ventures), means prices should be more competitive. Particularly if they target different demographics.

Rome Fiumicino Confirms Its North American Hub Status: FCO’s Strategic Role

Rome Fiumicino has for several years become one of Europe’s best airports. The transformation of the Roman airport has been impressive – a far-cry from what Rome Fiumicino was in the 90s! A transformation that has seen the airport become by far Italy’s busiest airport and the main hub for transatlantic and long-haul flights.

Delta Air Lines’ new Seattle-Rome flight, together with Alaska Airlines’, only confirms this dominant position in the country, but also increasingly at the European level.

Seattle-Rome 2026 Flight Summary: Complete Guide to New Italy Routes

• Launch dates: May 2026
• Frequencies: 4x weekly both
• Aircraft: Boeing 787-9 (Alaska) vs A330-900neo (Delta)
• Sales: Fall 2025
• Flight duration: ~11 hours