Asia-Seattle airline market: Cathay Pacific's opportunity to match JAL

At Seattle Tacoma airport there are already almost as many international seats to Asia as to Europe but the airport could soon gain more, with Japan Airlines considering the Pacific Northwest city.

Media reports indicate that JAL has decided to serve the airport, but JAL has not yet announced its decision. A JAL service will be accompanied by further growth of its codeshare partnership with Alaska Airlines, which is the largest airline in Seattle by far. JAL is able to partner with Alaska Airlines in a number of cities, despite JAL having a JV with American Airlines.

A JAL service to Tokyo should be followed by a Cathay Pacific Hong Kong-Seattle flight. Seattle has long been a consideration, but Cathay already has an extensive footprint in Vancouver, is hesitant to send the wrong message to its (non-JV) partner American Airlines by partnering with Alaska Airlines, and needs to decide on aircraft selection.

The debate is less about commercial practices and more about optics.