Alaska Airlines Says Long-Haul Flights 'A Drag': 9 Nonstop Routes

Alaska Airlines says its long-haul expansion has become a near-term “drag” even as demand looks healthy. In its third quarter, the carrier lost $147 million, which it attributed to a higher-than-expected tax rate, though the report links the pressure to rapid growth on long-haul routes. For Q4, it expects a total loss of $650 million, and the airline warns new international services may take months or years to mature while load factors improve. International operations lifted third-quarter load factors by 7.5 points and unit revenues rose 24%. London Heathrow remains a key bright spot, especially in premium cabins.