Overview
- The company announced the plan on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, confirming that Hawaiian‑branded Boeing 737‑800s will replace Hawaiian’s aging Boeing 717 fleet on neighbor‑island routes.
- To keep frequencies steady while planning continues, Alaska will base one Alaska‑branded 737 in Honolulu starting October 2026 to operate three daily round trips between HNL and Kahului (OGG), and it targets a formal fleet transition beginning in 2028.
- Alaska says each 737‑800 will carry roughly 161 passengers versus about 123–128 on a 717, roughly double the First Class seats and about 30 more Premium Class seats to expand upgrade opportunities.
- The 737‑800s will be based in Honolulu and flown and crewed by Honolulu‑based pilots and flight attendants, and Alaska cited the 737’s proven airframe and engines as better suited to high daily flight cycles and salt‑air conditions.
- Alaska has not disclosed how many 737s will be reassigned or a detailed rollout timeline beyond the 2028 target, and it describes the move as part of its Alaska Accelerate strategy after earlier post‑merger fleet shifts such as 787 redeployments and planned A330 retrofits.