Alaska Airways, Inc. has introduced the long run fleet plan for Hawaiian Airways’ Neighbor Island flights – a contemporary fleet of Hawaiian-branded Boeing 737-800 plane that can substitute Hawaiian’s retired Boeing 717 fleet, delivering a considerably improved visitor expertise and better reliability for Hawaii and the Hawaii traveler.
The 737-800 plane will provide a contemporary premium inflight expertise together with:
Twice the variety of First Class seats and the addition of greater than 30 Premium Class seats, creating extra improve choices for Huaka’i by Hawaiian and Atmos™ Rewards members
Quick, free Starlink Wi-Fi on all flights
More room within the baggage compartment for surfboards
Adjustable leather-based Recaro seats all through the plane
110V sockets, USB charger and system holders within the backrest on every seat
“Neighbor Island service is a part of life in Hawaii, and we all know how involved our visitors, staff and communities are in regards to the nation’s future,” mentioned Diana Birkett Rakow, CEO of Hawaiian Airways. “This resolution displays our dedication to spend money on Hawaii for the long run, to strengthen Hawaiian Airways and to honor the native experience, tradition and care that has made Hawaii the airline of Hawaii for practically a century.”
The long run fleet will carry the Hawaiian model and give attention to the Neighbor Island service, primarily based in Honolulu (HNL). The airline’s plan is for these plane to be flown by pilots and flight attendants from Honolulu as soon as the mixing is full, sustaining the protected, dependable and frequent service that Hawaii residents rely upon for work, college, household, medical care and every day life on the islands, whereas providing all visitors a extra fashionable and premium onboard expertise.
Flying on Neighbor Island is especially demanding, with quick segments, frequent every day cycles and operations in a salty air atmosphere. The 737-800 is a sturdy, dependable and confirmed plane with airframes and engines that may stand up to the excessive cycles of Neighbor Island operations whereas permitting the airline to keep up capability to fulfill demand with a full schedule of frequent departures from morning to night.
“The 737-800 gives us with a confirmed, succesful platform for the subsequent chapter of Neighbor Island flying,” mentioned Jim Landers, chief of Hawaii Operations. “It’s effectively suited to the operational wants of the islands and provides our groups a transparent path to transition from the 717s, whereas persevering with to ship the dependable service our visitors count on.”
The aim is to start the fleet transition in 2028 and take fast motion to supply this extra capability and improved expertise to our visitors. Extra particulars might be shared as planning progresses.
To take care of frequency and capability and meet the wants of Hawaii communities within the quick time period previous to the transition, Alaska will complement the 717 Neighbor Island with 737 capability. Starting in October, an Alaska-branded 737 plane will make three spherical journeys per day between Honolulu and Kahului (OGG). This 737 will depart from Terminal 1 at Honolulu’s Daniel Ok. Inouye Worldwide Airport, and visitors can verify in at Terminal 1.
The fleet resolution is a crucial step in Alaska Speed up, Alaska Air Group’s strategic plan to attain long-term development by strengthening the corporate’s dual-brand technique, increasing Hawaiian Airways’ attain and investing within the markets that matter most to visitors. Energy in Hawaii and continued funding within the Hawaiian Airways model are central to that plan.
Because the mixture of Alaska Airways and Hawaiian Airways, the corporate has continued to spend money on Hawaii, strengthening connectivity by a broader community, launching a brand new, extra helpful loyalty program, bettering know-how, planning a brand new Honolulu lounge and airport enhancements in Hawaii, and bettering the visitor expertise whereas deepening engagement with native communities. Neighbor Island’s future fleet builds on that journey, higher serving Hawaii collectively and honoring and supporting two robust and beloved manufacturers.
“We fly to Hawaii and are privileged to serve and characterize Hawaii by the Hawaiian Airways model, which might be mirrored on much more flights as our operational integration continues. Investing in a devoted Hawaiian Airways 737-800 fleet is about extra than simply plane. It is about defending the connections that make life on the islands doable and making certain Hawaiian stays robust for the long run,” added Birkett Rakow.