Travelers flying between the Hawaiian islands are set to see a major aircraft change in the next few years. Alaska Air Group said it plans to phase out Hawaiian Airlines’ Boeing 717s on neighbor island flights and replace them with Alaska’s Boeing 737-800s, which will be repainted in Hawaiian livery before entering service. The transition is expected to start in 2028.
For budget-minded flyers, the shift could also mean more capacity on busy island routes. Hawaiian’s current 717s operate up to 160 daily flights linking Honolulu, Maui, Lihue, Kona and Hilo, but the aircraft are now about 25 years old on average. The incoming 737-800s will offer 161 seats, compared with roughly 123 to 128 on the 717s, depending on the aircraft. Premium seating will nearly double, with 16 first-class seats and 36 extra-legroom seats, alongside 109 economy seats.
Alaska said the aircraft will include Starlink Wi‑Fi and more cargo room for items such as surfboards. The company also said it wants the Hawaiian brand to be visible across flights to, from and within the islands. Before the full switchover, Alaska plans to base one 737-800 in Honolulu starting in October for three daily round-trips between Honolulu and Maui.
The fleet changes are part of the broader integration following Alaska’s 2024 acquisition of Hawaiian. Alaska has also moved Hawaiian’s Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners to Seattle routes to Europe and Asia, while Hawaiian’s Airbus A330s are slated for future retrofits with updated business-class seats and a premium economy cabin. Alaska did not say how many 737s will ultimately be assigned to inter-island flying, though Hawaiian currently operates around 20 717s on those routes.
Source: thepointsguy.com