Alaska Plans Hawaii Inter-Island Fleet Shift

Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines are moving to replace Hawaiian’s inter-island Boeing 717s with Boeing 737-800s starting in 2028, with a dedicated Hawaii-based sub-fleet and initial 737-800 deployment to Honolulu–Kahului in late 2026 to bolster capacity and service. The plan includes expanded cargo operations with four 737-800 freighters, Starlink connectivity, enhanced premium seating, and a long-term investment to sustain Hawaii’s essential island-to-island travel network under the Hawaiian Airlines brand.