Alaska Airlines taps PrimeFlight to provide cargo service in London
Alaska Airlines launches daily Seattle-London Heathrow cargo service May 21, 2026, using Boeing 787-9 bellyhold capacity with PrimeFlight as ground handler. Separately, Alliance Ground International was acquired by Lone Star Funds, consolidating U.S. cargo handling further.
New transatlantic belly cargo capacity on Alaska could modestly improve freight rates and transit options for sellers shipping goods between the U.S. and UK. Neither development changes marketplace fees, policies, or fulfillment workflows in the next 30 days.
Incremental air freight capacity expansion and ground handler consolidation reflect ongoing normalization of post-pandemic cargo markets, but neither event affects marketplace seller economics or platform operations.
Monitor UK-bound freight quotes in May 2026 -- new belly cargo supply on this route may compress rates slightly for freight forwarders serving Seattle-origin shipments.
No action needed in marketplace accounts; file this as background context on U.S.-UK air freight capacity trends.
Bottom Line
New Alaska cargo route adds U.S.-UK belly capacity, no direct seller impact.
Source Lens
Industry Context
Useful background context, but lower-priority than direct platform, community, or operator intelligence.
Impact Level
medium
New Alaska cargo route adds U.S.-UK belly capacity, no direct seller impact.
Key Stat / Trigger
May 21, 2026 daily nonstop Seattle-London Heathrow launch
Focus on the operational implication, not just the headline.
Full Coverage
Alaska Airlines has selected PrimeFlight Aviation Services to handle cargo for the carrier at London Heathrow International Airport ahead of the May 21 launch of daily nonstop widebody service from Seattle to London.
Alaska Airlines (NYSE: ALK) will carry cargo to London in the bellyhold of Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft inherited in the acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines.
Alaska began service between its Seattle hub and Tokyo and Seoul, South Korea last year, marking the company’s entry into long-haul international flying, and this spring will also add service from Seattle to Rome.
PrimeFlight Aviation Services said in a news release on Friday that it will load and unload Alaska aircraft, build and breakdown pallets, and receive ground shipments from freight forwarders.
PrimeFlight has a pre-existing relationship with Alaska Air, providing cargo support services at airports in Columbus, Ohio; Milwaukee; Omaha, Nebraska; Ontario, California; San Francisco; and Orange Country, California. The February acquisition of airline caterer GAT also means PrimeFlight serves Alaska Air on the passenger side at 11 domestic airports.
“This appointment represents another important milestone in the continued growth of our cargo division, reflecting the increasing confidence airlines place in PrimeFlight’s operational capability, service quality, and customer-focused delivery model,” said Sascha von Wolfersdorf, vice president of operations for PrimeFlight’s Europe operations.
“Our cargo operation at LHR continues to expand, supported by ongoing investment in people, equipment and infrastructure to meet the demands of our cargo customers.” PrimeFlight also has ground handling operations in Italy. It entered the European market through the 2025 acquisition of Airworld.
It also picked up an air container maintenance and cabin maintenance business at London Heathrow and Frankfurt airport in Germany last year. Alliance Ground International In related news, Alliance Ground International, the largest American-owned cargo handling agent for airlines, has a new owner.
Lone Star Funds, based in London, announced last week that it has acquired Miami-based AGI from private equity firms Audax Group and Greenbrier Equity Group. AGI provides cargo, ground and mail handling, security and hospitality services at more than 60 airports in the United States and Canada, and employs more than 12,000 people.
“We are excited to partner with the AGI management team to drive the business forward,” said Lone Star CEO Donald Quintin. “The company has a superior service offering and a track record of success across its integrated operations.
We see opportunities to continue to invest in the business and its people to continue to grow its capabilities and ensure it remains best-in-class in delivering for the aviation industry.”
In mid-January, AGI acquired JetStream Ground Services, expanding its cargo operations to airports in Charlotte, North Carolina; Providence, Rhode Island; and Palm Beach, Florida. Click here for more FreightWaves/American Shipper stories by Eric Kulisch. Write to Eric Kulisch at ekulisch@freightwaves. com.
RELATED STORIES: LAX to lease cargo facility to Alliance Ground International Alaska Air completes Hawaiian cargo integration ahead of other units The post Alaska Airlines taps PrimeFlight to provide cargo service in London appeared first on FreightWaves.
Original Source
This briefing is based on reporting from Freightwaves. Use the original post for full primary-source context.
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