With hotly contested times all but assured in the latest round of Hawaii travel shakeups, Delta Air Lines announced today it is refocusing on Hawaii. The carrier will be going head to head with arch-nemesis Alaska Airlines and with Hawaiian Airlines, just as those two hope to join forces in a merger that legacy airlines like Delta and United would not welcome.
Delta will fly to four Hawaiian island destinations from eight U.S. gateway cities with these new Hawaii flight additions. Honolulu will now be served from every one of Delta’ U.S. hub markets.
What does this Delta Hawaii expansion mean?
Before turning to the details of today’s announcement, we are focused on what this implies in the current Hawaii travel environment. First, it’s a “shot across the bow” on Alaska and Hawaiian. Secondly, it’s the first assertion from any legacy airline since the Alaska/Hawaiian merger was announced over two months ago.
The Delta attack moves along two flanks. With its new service announced, it directly targets Hawaiian Airlines’ longest domestic route from Boston to Honolulu. The second target is against Delta’s fierce competitor, Alaska Airlines, with more Delta flights from Alaska hubs in Seattle and Salt Lake City.
Flights to Hawaii will utilize the airline’s 767-300ER, which features well-reviewed Delta One suites and a true premium economy cabin. Neither Alaska nor Hawaiian have yet to introduce a Hawaii premium economy product. Shorter flights from the West Coast will use the company’s new Airbus A321neo fleet, which features neither lie-flat, nor premium economy, however.
The second flank is precisely focused on Alaska, without regard to Hawaiian.
Delta Air Lines and Alaska Airlines saw their once tight-knit partnership dissolve, sparked mainly by Delta’s Seattle expansion. Years later, the two are still in a fierce battle to sway customers, with Hawaii flights now a resurging focus for both.
Delta will begin daily year-round service between Miami and Seattle in competition with Alaska Airlines. That service starts December 21.
Lastly, Delta strikes out on its own by returning its prior route between Atlanta and Maui. It will fly from November through March and seasonally only at this point. That, of course, is subject to change.
“More Routes Throughout Hawaii” — Delta Air Lines.
In its press release earlier this morning, Delta said, “Hawaii-bound Delta customers will be able to choose from 22 daily nonstop flights next winter, including a new daily, seasonal nonstop service between BOS (Boston) and HNL starting Nov. 21 through Apr. 30.
More Delta Hawaii flights from Salt Lake City and Seattle.
“Delta will further boost its flight schedule with a second daily, seasonal frequency to HNL starting Nov. 6 through Mar. 29. Additionally, customers in SEA will see a third daily, seasonal flight to HNL beginning Dec. 21 through Mar. 29.”
Delta reinvigorates its Maui presence.
Delta will return its route to Maui from Atlanta beginning November 21 and running through March 29. from the Eastern U.S., with the resumption of service from Atlanta (starting Nov. 21 through Mar. 29.
In today’s competitive environment, more changes are sure to come. Please tell us your take on what’s happening in Hawaii air travel.
Reading about competition between airlines, as a surprise come that Alaska Airlines has canceled non stop flights between San Jose and Maui – Kahului; Kauai – Lihue and Hawaii, Kona airport. Why has this happened? Is this temporary or permanent
Can u imagine if Alaska and Hawaiian wedding actually happened. Alaska could carry it’s passengers direct from Seattle international, across the Pacific to Japan, Korea, Australia, China, New Zealand, or to Europ France, England, Germany, Italy on 330s and 787s.. that would just destroy Delta’s hub in Seattle. Alaska has a much more complex network there. It would just be the end of that hub for delta as Seattle can’t support 2 airline hubs. I am sure AA and UA are just thrilled. But speaking of Hawaii flights I would much rather fly deltas old 767 or A321s then a 737max sorry southwest and Alaska not getting on that tincan it’s going to be years before they figure out all the problems with that Frankenstein plane.
Those 767s are 30 years old with inferior biz class.
Delta doesn’t need to worry about the merger due to me. I don’t ride Delta as I have Never had adequate legroom in coach on that airline, and that started in 1976.