SEATAC — Hawaiian Airlines will retire inter-island Boeing 717s and replace them with Boeing 737-800s, according to parent company Alaska Airlines.
The future fleet, according to Alaska Air, will be based in Honolulu (HNL) and flown and crewed by Honolulu-based pilots and flight attendants. Alaska says, this represents the next step in the journey to bring more value to Hawai‘i and the Hawai‘i traveler, building on an expanded network, industry-leading loyalty program and comprehensive investments across technology, aircraft, airports, guest experience and community.
“Neighbor Island service,” according to Hawaiian Airlines CEO, Diana Birkett Rakow, “is part of the fabric of life in Hawai‘i, and we know how deeply our guests, employees and communities care about its future. This decision reflects our commitment to invest in Hawai‘i for the long term, to strengthen Hawaiian Airlines and to honor the local expertise, culture and care that have made Hawaiian the airline of Hawai‘i for nearly a century.”
According to an Alaska Air website press release, the 737-800 aircraft will feature twice as many first class seats and the addition of more than 30 premium class seats, creating more upgrade opportunities for rewards club members, including more room for surfboards which are a common luggage component on inter-island flights.
According to the website, Travel Weekly, Hawaiian Air’s goal is to begin the transition in 2028. The airline said additional details, such as the number of 737s the transition will require, will be revealed as planning progresses.