Dreamliner flights to Hawaii from Los Angeles are quietly vanishing. In a sign of growing strategic realignment, Hawaiian’s new flagship Boeing 787 aircraft is being pulled from LAX and repositioned to Seattle, with changes set to unfold over the next few months.


Starting August 20, Dreamliner service launches from Seattle to Honolulu, with a second daily flight added September 11. By October 26, the final scheduled Dreamliner flight from LAX to Honolulu will depart, closing a brief and hopeful chapter for West Coast travelers who had just begun to enjoy what was, for some, an upgrade.
This follows earlier short-term deployments to Phoenix, Los Angeles, and Maui, as well as interim stops in cities like New York and Boston, before heading to Seattle. As covered in ‘This Hawaiian Airlines Dreamliner Says Aloha,’ these movements reveal a pattern—routes are being tested, but the long game is clear: Seattle is the strategic end goal, plain and simple.
One traveler told us, “I was looking forward to flying the Dreamliner from LAX to Honolulu—it felt like a step up in comfort. Now, it’s already going to be gone.” That sentiment is being echoed by many who view this not just as a route change, but as a sign of Hawaii’s shifting place in global air travel under Alaska Airlines.
The Seattle play.
The relocation of Dreamliners to Seattle is no accident. Seattle is Alaska Airlines’ stronghold, and now that Hawaiian has joined the fold, it’s becoming clear where the center of gravity is heading.
Seattle’s population is over 4 million—more than three times greater than Hawaii’s entire population. The city also boasts direct access to Asia-Pacific markets without requiring a detour through Honolulu. That makes it a more natural hub for future long-haul growth.
For now, Hawaiian’s 787s will continue flying between Seattle and Honolulu. But that may be a short-term deployment as well. Alaska has already confirmed its intention to fly international routes using Dreamliners from Seattle, although launch dates remain to be determined. Hawaii may become a connecting point—if it’s used at all.
Related: Hawaiian Widebodies Gutted, Moved For Alaska’s Bold Global Vision
What’s going away from LAX.
When Hawaiian introduced the Dreamliner to LAX in early 2024, many thought it signaled a long-term premium push on a key route. The aircraft features improved cabin pressure, extra humidity, and oversized windows. Yet, in many ways, the economy cabin took a downgrade with the Dreamliner, as the two-across seating that customers had become accustomed to on the A330s was replaced by three-across seating throughout the plane. Two across is something rare and appreciated on longer flights.
Now, the Dreamliner experience is disappearing before most travelers have even had a chance to book it. All Dreamliner flights from Los Angeles will end by October 26. The story echoes what we saw just months earlier, when Hawaiian quietly pulled Dreamliner service from Phoenix. The pattern is now familiar: routes are tested, then rapidly reassigned based on new priorities.
Beat of Hawaii plans to fly the Dreamliner from LAX to Honolulu in business class, before the last reassignment.
For premium flyers, the loss feels especially sharp. Some first-class travelers specifically chose Hawaiian’s Dreamliner for its lie-flat seating and improved soft product. As reader Tommy H. put it, “I fly first class (no points) and I will not pay crazy prices for a cheaper plane ride provided by Alaska/Hawaiian merger adjustments.”
Seattle gets what Hawaii had hoped for.
There was a time not long ago when Hawaiian’s Dreamliner program was viewed as a revival of its independent long-haul ambitions. With the airline under pressure, the 787 was portrayed as the aircraft that would restore prestige to routes in Asia, Oceania, and beyond, all of which originated in Hawaii.
That vision has quickly unraveled.
Instead, Seattle is where the aircraft will be based. And while it will still touch Honolulu for now, that’s no longer its home. As one reader, Leonard L., put it, “Hawaii’s once importance is fast approaching an embarrassing demise.”
Another longtime flyer, Barry T., added, “It appears that Alaska is taking many of the features that made the flight from LAX a true aloha experience and moving them elsewhere.”
Related: Hawaiian Airlines Dreamliner Expands To Longest Route Ever.
This comes ahead of major unknowns.
The Dreamliner shift comes just ahead of Alaska and Hawaiian receiving a single operating certificate in October. With it will come sweeping changes—including possible new branding, route overhauls, and updated aircraft assignments.
Another big question mark is what happens to Hawaiian’s other wide body, the Airbus A330s. These widebodies make up the airline’s largest long-haul fleet. A cabin refresh has been promised, but so far, there’s no timeline, and travelers are still boarding outdated interiors on key routes.
Will these refreshed A330s stick to Hawaii-based service to any degree? Or will they, too, be redeployed under Alaska’s broader strategy? No answers yet—but what we’re seeing with the 787s may be a preview.
What’s at stake for Hawaii.
Historically, Hawaii has been more than just a destination—it has been a key connector in trans-Pacific aviation. Long before modern aircraft could fly nonstop from Asia to the mainland, Honolulu was the essential stopover for global flights. That era is now over.
As one reader, Mark Z., observed, “Now Hawaii has become more of an origin and destination market and less of an international jump off point.”
That change has deep consequences. Hawaii’s connectivity to global markets could become increasingly dependent on foreign carriers or mainland-based U.S. airlines. Meanwhile, the soft touches that once defined the “Hawaiian experience” may fade under broader standardization.
One reader, Drew808, struck a practical tone: “The future might not look like you expected it, but at least there is a future.”


What travelers should do now.
If you’re hoping to experience Hawaiian’s Dreamliner, and you’re based in Southern California, time is running out. The final 787 flight from LAX is scheduled for October 26. Starting October 27, the Los Angeles to Honolulu nonstop flights on Hawaiian and Alaska will resume operation with A330 widebody planes, with the addition of A321neo narrow-body aircraft.
Those who want to get on board should book now, while availability remains. Alternatively, travelers in the Pacific Northwest can start flying the Dreamliner between Seattle and Honolulu on August 20, with expanded service beginning on September 11.
Looking ahead, keep a close eye on route changes, particularly out of Seattle. These new Dreamliner deployments may mark the beginning of a full-scale shift in where and how wide-body service operates for the combined airline.
We welcome your comments. Mahalo!
Hat tip to Ishrion Aviation which first noted the change which we independently verified.
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Add this too above.
With all the dreamliners being sent from Seattle to Honolulu route what is Alaskan thinking?
Now look what they said today on the 21st:
They said they were going to move them for international flights and that was their excuse for using the planes on longer hauls.
Another lie already.
Instead the rape the biggest market on the West coast..
LAX SF SD. Why the blank do they think more people fly out of Seattle then California ?
Stupid.
I will not fly on a Nero or a Max jet for 5 hours.
Sounds like Alaskan is even dummer then I thought.
They are also eliminating all miles partners with Asia and New Zealand Australia. Stupidity
What is that about?
I will use up all my HA miles and goodbye Alaskan. Your ruining Hawaiian Air and now with even insane decisions that don’t make any sense for business.
Hello Delta and Untied !
Lets cut to the chase:
Alaska bought Hawaiian to confiscate all their big planes for ther hub in Seattle for international flights. To cheap to buy their own.
Their promises to the Hawaiian people were lies. They did not care about Hawaii residents at all.
Nor the comfort of wide body planes on flights too and from the west coast which is why Hawaiian Airlines had a great following.
They are another typical company who deceived everyone in their takeover.
And the goverment allowed it
Forcing everyone to use their credit cards. Stopping all discounts even at Foodland for miles etc. It a joke and pure corporate greed.
I have tons of miles and I will use them up, and then never even look at Alaska airlines again.
Reality…
The news only gets worse, as the spirit of Aloha is chipped away.
You do understand that HA was going to go bankrupt, Chapter 7, if AS hadn’t purchased it?
I would not be surprised if Alaska-Hawaiian converts the entire fleet to all Boeing. Dreamliners will go Seattle to Asia, perhaps also Honolulu to New York and/or Boston with all other flights being 737-Max, probably with some flying Hawaiian’s colors.
It may be SEA-HNL will be 787
HNL-HND or ICN or SYD will also be 787 of the same aircraft
All mainland flights will use A330 and A321
Occasionally A321 between islands to reduce frequency
Possibly HNL -OGG -HNL
@Chris… “…Calm down everyone! There isn’t anything too special or exciting about a 787 compared to any other widebody…”
Unless you are sitting up front. 😉
I guess only when you are comparing it to the existing HA A-330, you are right. But I still think, as I have said before West Coast to Hawaii is a total waste of a first or business class cabin with lie flat seats, the flights are too short. I know that HA intended to use the 787s on their longer haul flights so when if the merger had not happened do you think those Dreamliners would be doing 4 1/2 -5 hour west coast to Hawaii flights regularly? I bet no. I recently flew UA on a Polaris equiped 777 from HNL to SFO, the flight was unusually short at 4h 5 min and as lovely as that was I almost felt guilty for using up all that energy and space for such a short flight. The existing first class on the A330s and the UA 777s with the domestic first class is completely adequate for domestic ops… Okay, I got a little off point. I still say, don’t get too excited!
To each his own I guess…
Anything over 4+ hrs and I really look at the most comfortable way to go. Even if it does cost me a bit more.
I googled it and LAX – HNL clocks in right around 6 hours +/- 15 min depending on winds of course.
And I found F for LAX-HNL-LIH for only 40,000 (compared to the usual 80,000) Not much difference than what they were asking for coach.
Plus I’ve never been on the 787 so that peeks my interest a bit.
Off for a 6 week stay in June.
Aloha!
Calm down everyone! There isn’t anything too special or exciting about a 787 compared to any other widebody. If you are just dying to fly on one you must not have done much other travel to anywhere because they are literally flying everywhere all over the world every day.
I can’t speak for how Hawaiian will handle this on their 787s but some and in the past almost all airlines locked the window dimming control so that passengers could not look out of the windows from shortly after take off until right before landing, for this reason I avoided Dreamliners for years. These days this is less common but it does happen. I also find the lavatory placement in the 787 less convenient to mid and front of the cabin seats such as premium economy which I know Hawaiian doesn’t have yet but when they do, that cabin will not have dedicated lavs which sucks! As for the other “luxuries” of the Dreamliner, you won’t notice them, the two seat sides of the A-330 beat anything the 787 has.
I booked a RT LAX-HNL on HAL for April/May on their 787 for its better seating. But, wow, NO Wifi? How are they going to compete with other airlines?
Just to be clear, this isn’t anything new. Hawaiian flew HNL LAX first when they received their first A330’s and 767’s. Then redeployed them to longer routes once they had the operating experience with them. The Dreamliner was always going to be used on longer routes like JFK and SYD and still will be, now of course they have more options with a strong mainland hub to feed them in SEA.
Whew… I thought I was going to read that my June 2nd flight was going to be messed with.