Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines have unveiled their latest moves to revamp Hawaii air travel. With new routes, expanded fleets, and a strategic focus on Seattle as their global gateway, these changes signal a rapidly evolving experience for Hawaii visitors and others.
Seattle expands as the new Alaska/Hawaiian global hub.
Seattle is now the cornerstone of the Alaska-Hawaiian partnership, highlighted by two new international routes launching in 2025. Beginning May 12, Hawaiian Airlines will operate daily nonstop flights between Seattle and Tokyo Narita (NRT) on its Airbus A330 widebody aircraft. These can be purchased now. Later in October, their service will expand to Seoul Incheon (ICN), underscoring the combined airline’s growing presence in Asia.
Will Hawaiian Dreamliners getting moved to Seattle?
There’s speculation about whether Dreamliners might replace the A330 on these Seattle routes sooner rather than later. While today’s announcement didn’t confirm this, such a shift would further establish Seattle as the partnership’s global hub using state-of-the-art planes instead of relying on legacy A330 aircraft with far fewer premium offerings.
By 2030, the combined airline aims to serve at least 12 long-haul destinations from Seattle, with more details expected in the coming years. This strategy solidifies Seattle’s role as a gateway to Asia and beyond for Hawaii and mainland travelers.
The changes are expected to lead to the company hiring over 100 additional flight attendants, 100 ground crew , and up to 100 pilots.
Adjusting international flights from Hawaii.
Hawaiian Airlines will suspend its Honolulu-Narita route to make way for the new Seattle-Tokyo service while increasing flights to Tokyo Haneda (HND) from 12 to 14 weekly. The Narita slots are being held for potential future growth, signaling optimism for a recovery in Japan travel demand.
With these adjustments, the combined airline will operate 24 weekly flights between Hawaii and Japan in 2025—slightly fewer than the current schedule but strategically aligned to more effectively meet passenger and cargo needs.
Big Island and Kauai flights from San Francisco.
Island service from the West Coast is expanding with new routes served by Alaska Airlines. Starting in June 2025, nonstop flights from San Francisco to Kona (KOA) will operate four times weekly, and flights to Lihue (LIH) will run three times a week, using Alaska’s fuel-efficient Boeing 737 MAX aircraft. While not yet confirmed, these flights are expected to be year-round rather than seasonal.
These additions strengthen connectivity from San Francisco, a major hub for the combined airline, and offer travelers more options to reach Hawaii’s neighbor islands from the Bay Area.
Widebody and redeye expansions.
Hawaiian Airlines is deploying its A330 widebodies on more routes, providing a 20% capacity increase between Seattle and Honolulu. Three of six daily flights on this route will now feature the larger aircraft, catering to growing passenger and cargo demand with enhanced comfort.
The airline is also expanding its redeye service from Hawaii to the West Coast, adding new overnight flights. In addition to the recently announced Maui to San Diego redeye, Honolulu and Maui will now connect to Portland, and Honolulu will offer a redeye to San Francisco. These changes unlock more connection opportunities and better align schedules for travelers heading across the mainland.
Fleet utilization ramps up under Alaska’s keen eye.
Under Alaska Air’s leadership, the Hawaiian Airlines fleet is being pushed to greater efficiency. Flying hours for Hawaiian’s A321neo aircraft will increase by 25%, while overall seat capacity will grow by 18%. This approach mitigates delays in Alaska’s Boeing 737 MAX deliveries and supports the airline’s ambitious network expansion.
Notably, Hawaiian’s A330 widebody will return to the Seattle-Anchorage route during Alaska’s peak summer travel season, a move not seen in years. This adjustment is designed to handle increased passenger and cargo demand, leveraging the aircraft’s greater capacity to meet seasonal surges.
The big Dreamliner question.
Hawaiian Airlines’ future delivery of Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners is widely expected to resume soon. We anticipated that news today but hadn’t received it at the time of publication. These advanced aircraft promise improved fuel efficiency and passenger experience, making them highly anticipated additions to the Alaska/Hawaiian fleet.
Which of these announcements are you most interested in?
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So stupid to fly from here to the mainland (5 hrs) then change planes to re- fly 5 hours plus to Japan that alone adds 10 + hours! Why don’t the fly from Seattle to Honolulu then on to Japan?
Will Hawaiian continue the nonstop flights from Sacramento to Kona?
We are second home owners in Hawaii and spend many months here so we do a lot of back and forth from bay area to Kona. We always book first class because my husband is disabled but the first class service is not that! Are there any wide body flights available to us which offers the pods in first class?
Thank you
La Raine S
All I know is that getting to Phoenix from Lihue has now become almost undoable unless you are staying in Lihue! Everyone knows how risky it can be getting to the airport on time when coming from Poipu and, in particular, from Princeville. But now that the latest daytime flight to connect to Mainland flights is 8:45 am – well, let’s just say getting up at 4:30 for that long day isn’t appealing. And the Red Eye flights through Seattle are with Alaska who charges $250 per seat for any additional leg room!
Regarding the Green tax, all taxes, making reservations, I’ve been fooled more than once until I check in. By then it’s too late.
So it has begun. The gutting of Hawaiian Airlines as they move the wide-bodies to the mainland. I’m fearful for Hawaiian’s future after the operating certificate is unified.
How so Kyle? Hawaiian is increasing it’s flying dramatically out of Seattle. They will be flying to Asia and Alaska with their wide body’s this summer. Increased utilization of the A330’s is smart and obviously the AirBuses aren’t going anywhere. Very smart of them to suspend the NRT/HNL service for now. The Japan/Hawaii market has been very slow to return to pre Covid levels even now, It will and will become very lucrative for Alaska/Hawaiian when it does. This is likely just the beginning of the synergies of these two airlines maximizing the strong points of both carriers.
Well said JohnW.
All of your replies have been spot on! Fact based. The utilization of the wide bodies is increasing. The Only HA going west to Asia that is being axed is HNL-NRT. Anyone wanting to fly west to Asia specifically Japan can do that just as they have for years. Not sure where the comments about having to fly from HNL-SEA first before flying to Asia are coming from?? Read the press release! I haven’t seen a single company email in my inbox giving any indication that the HNL base won’t always be the size they currently are. AS is making sure HA flies well into the future instead of a guaranteed bankruptcy or worse, think Aloha Airlines! I have 100% confidence in my leaders making this merger a win win!
Think the Hawaiian sea-nrt maybe short lived. With ANA, JAL, DLT all non stops from sea, don’t believe the demand is there. More competition should be great for consumers though.
Like any merger, there will be changes good and bad, but Hawaiian will still be in existence.