Today, Beat of Hawaii stepped onboard the very first Hawaiian Airlines Dreamliner, just prior to it entering revenue service. These planes bring to Hawaiian an entirely new and upgraded feeling throughout the plane, far better fuel economy, and by next year, if not sooner, Hawaiian’s Starlink free satellite WiFi. The planes were ordered with aspirations of flying to more distant Hawaii gateways, potentially including Europe, Southeast Asia, and Western Australia.
It’s unfathomable just how much has changed since then.
To begin with, the first of the new planes is running about three years late. Largely due to Covid, this first Dreamliner, named Kapuahi, has been mothballed for years. A second Dreamliner is expected to arrive sometime later this spring, which is the only other delivery this year. The planes will operate close to home for now, mostly to and from western US cities, before spreading their wings further afield.
How does this impact the rest of Hawaiian Airlines’ fleet?
Notably, then and now, the new aircraft fleet does not affect Hawaiian Airlines’ existing fleets of A321neo and A330 aircraft.
Unfortunately, the A321 fleet has become somewhat of an albatross around Hawaiian’s neck. That is due to the ongoing, expensive, and extreme engine problems across the entire fleet that continue to plague the airline to this very day.
In the meanwhile, it’s Hawaiian Airline’s twenty-four A330-200 wide-body aircraft that continue to serve as the backbone of its long-range operations, connecting Hawaii with destinations in North America and the Asia Pacific region.
The history of the Hawaiian Airlines Dreamliner fleet.
The new extra-long-range fleet traces back to 2014, when the airline planned to acquire six Airbus A350-800 aircraft. However, Airbus discontinued those due to a lack of orders and shifted Hawaiian to a less desirable A330-800. That left the airline in a challenging position with limited options and prompted it to reevaluate the next steps.
It appears that Boeing offered Hawaiian a favorable deal to sway the airline back to its long-range aircraft offerings, potentially one-upping Airbus in the process.
Dreamliner interior in business and economy.
Two years ago, when the interior of the new fleet was first revealed, it previewed new premium business-class seating. An arguably much-needed premium economy cabin has not been announced, at least thus far. We were told by CEO Peter Ingram today, however, that it isn’t ruled out in the future. The dramatic business class transformation is based on Adient Aerospace’s lie-flat seating. The new seats are arranged in a preferred 1-2-1 configuration, offering direct aisle access and a better level of comfort and privacy compared with the A330.
The focus of the airline is clearly on these 34 “Leihōkū” suites with privacy doors, which are the very same ones already in use by Qatar Airways. Suites feature 18-inch monitors and wireless chargers pictured above next to a personal storage compartment. The airline says the center suite pairs “privacy or a shared experience with combinable double suites.” These aren’t, however, of the true double-bed type found on some other airlines. These seats face apart from each other, likely due to the great economy of space achieved rather than having them completely side by side. In the photo below, senior vice president Avi Mannis is having a conversation from a suite by turning towards the adjoining passenger.
Unlike the A330 lie-flat suites, which, albeit quirky, offer a dedicated amount of space, Dreamliner seats slide forward to achieve the lie-flat position. At that point, a large part of the passenger’s body extends under the console of the row in front.
In economy, passengers will be seated in a 3x3x3 configuration. Hawaiian Airlines is introducing Collins Aerospace’s Aspire seats. These seats are among the industry’s lightest, which in aviation speak, implies less padding.
Our initial observations on spending time onboard the new Hawaiian 787-9 Dreamliner.
We were happy to attend today’s launch event and blessing that was more for employees and their families than anything else. There were also other local and national press representatives in attendance together with Hawaiian Air executives. We were told that well over 1,000 people would tour the aircraft today. It was emotional for some, and one employee walked on and started crying to see this long-awaited project come to fruition.
1. Business class and ambiance onboard Hawaiian Dreamliner.
On walking onboard, the airplane has the distinct smell and feel of a new car. We entered via stairs at the front door within the Hawaiian maintenance hangar facility. That door leads immediately to the 34 business suite section. We were mesmerized by the new suites, as they are so different from the airline’s other first-class products. Sitting in the new suites, however, we couldn’t help but feel the physical similarity of the product to the United Airlines Dreamliner Polaris business class. Business suite dimensions have become largely a function of the aircraft type itself, as are other features, including the remotely controlled Dreamliner windows.
What drew our attention as totally unique are the branding elements, including a star-light-sky ceiling, elegant wood trim in various areas, and other unique design features, such as the galley ceiling pictured below.
On a less positive note, Jeff found the seat, when slid forward into lie-flat mode, to be restrictive around his feet as pictured. It wasn’t wide enough for his two feet to be side by side with shoes on. That would make sleeping a challenge, given his 6-foot frame.
2. Hawaiian Airlines Dreamliner economy class.
We were very pleased with the comfort and especially the legroom throughout economy class. It felt far more comfortable than on the airline’s A321 and the A330. Legroom was even better in the Extra Comfort seats, the best of which were the two-across bulkhead sets (of which there are only two pairs, pictured below).
We find that airline seat pitch specifications don’t necessarily relate to comfort. Such is the case here, given that in our experience, these economy seats had more legroom than expected.
Please let us know if you have any questions or thoughts about the new Hawaiian Airlines Dreamliner.
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Do you know what aisle seats the wings located?
My kids want to seats by the window seats but I just want to make sure that their view are not the airplane wings 😆
Thanks
Hi Kaye.
We’d suggest checking your aircraft type and then go to https://www.aerolopa.com/ and have a look at the seat map which also shows the wings.
Aloha.
I have to agree that the 2-4-2 is what most couples and families seek out. For every person that bothers to comment, there are thousands of others that remain silent. Really hope Hawaiian considers it for the newer aircraft.
Regarding seating in economy…
For those of you that bemoan the fact that the 2-4-2 has gone away and there are no longer just two seats together… (I am one of those)
Take heart!! There are a Few of those on the new plane. I saw a Video someone had taken and there were a few of them. Namely the last two side rows of the plane and the bulkhead seats in the back economy section. The downside is those seats are closet to the lavs. Though the bulkhead seats have a ton of leg room.
Looks like these 787’s will be flying out of PHX. Look forward to giving their new Business Class a try as a comparison to the AA 787 Business Class and Premium Economy.
Truth is the Hawaiian 787 is just a run of the mill nothing special about it..787…that’s the truth…and Hawaiian better worry about their financial situation as they’re staring into the bankruptcy abyss
I will choose Any widebody that has 2 seating. Whether 2-3-2 or 2-4. Whatever. 3 across is awkward. Hawaii is for couples. Please keep the 2 seats together!
The Boeing 787 is a fabulous airplane and I had been looking forward to the 787 in the Hawaiian fleet until the execs at HAL destroyed the plane by going to 3/3/3 seating for both economy and any premium economy .
Sorry Hawaiian, Hawaii is about a vacation as a couple. You go away from 2/3/2 or 2/4/2 seating and I go away from Hawaiian. That simple. Sorry that decision to eliminate 2 seating configuration is a deal breaker.
Well said KG!!!
I agree with you completely. The executives at HA got it so very wrong with the new 787 seating configuration. They shouldn’t need to be reminded that they’re not running a Spirit or Frontier type airline!
I know that for this site Canada does not exist, but Westjet has been flying Dreamliners to Hawaii from Calgary for a few years now. Although not with this particular cabin configuration.
Hi Ralph. Fellow canuck here. I found your comment interesting, so I popped over to the WJ website, but I couldn’t find any Dreamliner flights to Hawaii. All 737s.
Hi Nick, We’ve been on it: Calgary to Maui. The 787 is built from the passenger point of view, rather than cockpits and engines with a tube holding passengers as an afterthought. Quiter, slightly more humidity, better interior etc. Those environmental subtlties make you far less fatigued upon arrival, but you don’t know why.
Excellent article Jeff and Rob! Mahalo Nui for that.
Instead of a home run, HA 787 is probably a triple at best. Great aircraft for sure, with upscale Hawaiian decor that says Aloha in a beautiful way. Agree with Rob on the Business class center section seating configuration. No premium economy is a big negative for me. 3-3-3 seating in economy is great for groups and families, and Not So for couples and singles! HA needs to revisit the premium economy issue ASAP.
Aloha To All !
Hi Daryl
Thanks. We’re glad you enjoyed.
Aloha
How come no video?
The dreaded small foot cubby. Why?? You ruin the ability to actually sleep. So worthless…
I’ve flown on a 787 a few times on 10-plus hour flights. I enjoyed the trips. I’m not sure if it is the higher air pressure compared to other aircraft or not, but I was less fatigued after those flights. Boeing still builds some nice aircraft.
Yes, the 787 cabin pressure is maintained at 8,000 feet vs. 10,000 for most other aircraft. Doesn’t sound like much, but it is a difference maker.
I’m not too impressed with the Business Class suite configuration. It may be a matter of cost related to the provider of the seat station itself, but I’ve seen better configurations. There seems to be no provision for a couple sitting side-by-side, other than practically facing away from each other in the center section. El Al’s Dreamliner fleet for example, has a very accommodating configuration for couples desiring side-by-side seating, plus the feet “cubbyhole” is larger and can easily accommodate my 6’2″ frame. Hawaiian could have done better.
Hey Rob,
I agree that the current trend in Business class with that 1-2-1 is not at all ideal for couples, or even 2 people traveling together. I know AA’s 767’s were old, but I loved them for traveling the DFW/OGG route.
And of course you are correct that the plane itself has nothing to do with seat configurations or comfort. The purchasing airline company (like Hawaiian), chooses what seat company, seat types, pitch, etc. 😊
The 3 across economy seating is a non starter on full flights longer than 4-5h. So I avoid the 787 on other carriers for that same reason. Works on shorter flights.
The business section is obviously overkill on any Westcoast-to-Hawaii flights. Narrow footwells are a problem if you really intend to catch sleep. I fly Lufthansa A350 business every other month and have the same problem with their „angled“ seats.
Not sure if I agree on the need for an upgraded premium economy „just because other carriers have it“. Not if it is priced close to business class, as some other carriers (Cathay, LH, ANA) do that have it.