Tri-City travelers will be only a hop and a skip from taking in the sights, sounds and cuisine of Italy next year. 

Alaska Airlines recently announced that it will begin offering nonstop service between its hub at Seattle and Rome in May 2026, with tickets able to be booked beginning this fall. It will be the first time Seattle and Rome were connected by a nonstop flight. 

Alaska Airlines currently has four flights daily between the Tri-Cities Airport and Seattle. 

“Rome has been at the top of the list ever since we announced our new global gateway out of Seattle,” said CEO Ben Minicucci in a statement. “Our guests have been asking for an easy way to get to Italy for years, and we're thrilled to provide it to people in the Northwest and beyond. Andiamo – let's go!" 

Flights between the two cities will occur four times per week via a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, which can carry nearly 300 passengers. 

The plane has “innovative interiors provide spacious cabins, better views with the largest windows available on any wide-body commercial jet today, and cabin enhancements that allow passengers to arrive to their destinations feeling more refreshed,” according to Boeing’s website.