From Pualani to Alaska Eskimo: Hawaiian Dreamliners’ Future

Hawaiian Airlines’ fleet of Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners is growing, but their future could soon look very different. With three new aircraft set to arrive this year, bringing the total to five, these planes are already being integrated into new routes like Honolulu to JFK, Hawaiian’s longest-ever and most highly visible journey with the aircraft. However, as Alaska Airlines’ integration of Hawaiian progresses, future deliveries may depart from tradition, leaving behind the iconic Pualani livery in favor of Alaska’s Eskimo branding—or perhaps even a joint livery reflecting the combined airlines’ legacy.

This shift could signal a new era for the Dreamliners, potentially focusing more on routes originating from Seattle rather than Honolulu. Here’s how we see the future of these aircraft shaping up and what it could mean for Hawaii travelers.

Dreamliner’s growing role in the Alaska/Hawaiian fleet.

The Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner represents a major step forward for Hawaiian Airlines, offering increased fuel efficiency, greater range, and by some measures, improved passenger comfort. These planes were initially intended to support Hawaiian’s ambitious international expansion plans, to add new routes to destinations in Asia, the Pacific, Europe, and beyond.

Hawaiian Airlines is next preparing to use the Dreamliner for its longest 787 route ever, flying nonstop from Honolulu to New York’s JFK starting this spring. This deployment highlights well the aircraft’s capabilities and reflects Hawaiian’s focus on strengthening its East Coast connections.

Hawaiian ordered a total of 12 Dreamliners, with deliveries scheduled through 2027. However, Boeing’s ongoing production delays for the 787 affect virtually all airlines, and it remains unclear how these delays will impact the remainder of the Alaska/Hawaiian fleet delivery. This uncertainty adds another layer of complexity to how the aircraft will be integrated into the combined airline’s operations going forward from here.

Seattle to take center stage?

Industry observers believe the Dreamliner’s future may lie more with Alaska Airlines’ Seattle hub than Hawaiian Airlines’ traditional base in Honolulu. Alaska’s stronger and larger presence in the Pacific Northwest, combined with its robust domestic network, makes Seattle a logical launching point for long-haul, widebody international routes to Asia and Europe and premium transcontinental flights.

Seattle has long been a valued gateway for flights to key Asian air markets like Tokyo, Seoul, and Beijing. Alaska’s growing fleet of long-range aircraft, and most importantly, the current generation of Hawaiian Dreamliners, will greatly help it expand this connectivity. Potential routes to Europe, including London, Paris, and other cities, are also far more feasible from Seattle than Honolulu, thanks to its greater demand for international travel and broader network feed.

This strategy would mark a significant shift for the Hawaiian Airlines part of the combined brand, whose identity has always been rooted in the islands. The idea of Pualani being replaced by Alaska’s Eskimo on Dreamliners flying out of Seattle would reflect the growing influence of Alaska Airlines and the west coast in shaping the combined airline’s future.

The end of an era for Hawaiian branding?

One of the most visible changes yet, post-merger, could be the rebranding of Hawaiian’s Dreamliners. While the first five aircraft in production are likely to retain the Hawaiian Air livery, future deliveries may adopt something new. Will it be Alaska Airlines’ brandingd, or a future joint livery not yet revealed, that blends the two airlines’ identities intro one. This move would align the planes with Alaska’s broader fleet strategy and its goal of presenting a strong new unified and global brand.

What this means for Hawaii travelers.

Future changes could bring challenges and opportunities for travelers flying to and from Hawaii. On the plus side, the combined airline is thriving, first and foremost. Hawaiian was clearly on the verge of bankruptcy before Alaska’s acquisition. In addition, expanded deliveries of Dreamliners made possible by the deal may lead to improved comfort on some long-haul routes, with advanced Dreamliner features like improved cabin pressurization and larger windows. Additionally, Alaska’s robust loyalty program and domestic network could provide more options for connecting flights and travel rewards to and from Hawaii.

However, the potential shift of the flagship Dreamliners to more Seattle-based operations may limit Hawaii’s direct benefit from and connection to certain destinations. With Hawaiian’s limited results and ongoing challenges ahead in international routes, the focus on Seattle could leave Hawaii travelers with fewer long-haul options than once hoped, particularly to Europe or new Asia/Pacific air markets.

Other things remain unclear, like how and when will Alaska implement a premium economy offering on the Dreamliner fleet. Those specific plans haven’t yet been revealed.

Also, questions linger about customer satisfaction with at least one aspect of the new Dreamliners compared with the prior A330 widebody fleet. That is the 3-3-3 economy class seating vs. the 2-4-2 seating customers are accustomed to on the older widebody planes.

For now, Hawaiian Airlines’ iconic identity and operations remain in transition. As Alaska’s integration of the newly acquired brand progresses, the Dreamliner’s role in the combined fleet will continue to evolve, with implications for both Hawaii travelers and the broader airline industry.

We welcome your thoughts.