Alaska Airlines (AS) announced on July 21, 2026, that Hawaiian-branded Boeing 737-800 aircraft will replace Hawaiian Airlines’ (HA) retiring Boeing 717 fleet on Neighbor Island routes across Hawaii. The announcement came from the airline’s Seattle headquarters and confirmed that the future fleet will be based at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL), Honolulu, and staffed by Honolulu-based pilots and flight attendants.
The decision closes a long-running question left open since Alaska Air Group completed its acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines in 2024. Alaska said the fleet transition is targeted to begin in 2028, and it will add near-term relief starting in October, when one Alaska-branded 737 begins flying three daily round trips between Honolulu and Kahului Airport (OGG) on Maui.
What The New 737-800 Fleet Brings to Neighbor Island Flying
The 737-800s will carry a materially different cabin than the 717s they replace. Alaska confirmed the aircraft will feature twice as many First-Class seats and more than 30 additional Premium Class seats compared with the outgoing fleet.
The new jets will also include several guest-facing upgrades. According to Alaska’s press release, the cabin will offer:
- Fast, free Starlink Wi-Fi on every flight
- Reclining leather Recaro seats throughout the aircraft
- 110V power outlets, USB charging and seatback device holders at every seat
- Additional cargo space for surfboards
- More upgrade opportunities for Atmos Rewards and Huaka’i by Hawaiian members
Seat counts published by The Points Guy show the scale of the change. A Hawaiian 717 currently carries 8 First Class seats, 17 Premium seats and 98 Economy seats, for a total of up to 128 seats. Alaska’s 737-800, by comparison, carries 16 First Class seats, 36 Premium seats and 109 Economy seats, for a total of 161 seats.
Replacing Hawaiian’s Aging Boeing 717 Fleet
Hawaiian has operated the Boeing 717 on inter-island routes for decades, connecting five major airports across the state: Honolulu, Maui, Lihue, Kona and Hilo. The carrier currently flies up to 160 daily 717 flights across the islands.
The fleet is showing its age. The average Hawaiian 717 is about 25 years old, based on data from AirFleets, and Alaska said the 737-800 offers a more durable, proven airframe for the demanding short-hop, high-cycle, salt-air environment of inter-island flying.
“Neighbor Island service is part of the fabric of life in Hawai’i,” said Diana Birkett Rakow, chief executive officer of Hawaiian Airlines, in Alaska’s official announcement. She framed the decision as a long-term commitment to Hawaii, adding that it honors the local expertise and culture that have defined Hawaiian Airlines for nearly a century.
Jim Landers, head of Hawai’i operations for Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines, said the 737-800 gives the carriers a proven platform for the next chapter of Neighbor Island flying. He noted the aircraft is well suited to the operational demands of the islands and provides a clear transition path away from the 717s.
Alaska Airlines chose the Boeing 737-800 as the successor to Hawaiian Airlines’ Boeing 717 fleet after determining it was the best fit for the carrier’s high-frequency inter-island network. Designed to handle short sectors, multiple daily takeoffs and landings, and Hawaii’s corrosive salt-air conditions, the aircraft offers a dependable and efficient solution for Neighbor Island operations.
In addition to improving operational reliability and increasing passenger capacity, the 737-800 introduces a more modern cabin experience. The decision also underscores Alaska Air Group’s long-term strategy to invest in Hawaiian Airlines and enhance air service across the Hawaiian Islands.
Alaska Adds Interim 737 Capacity Ahead of the 2028 Transition
Before the branded fleet transition begins, Alaska is moving to ease pressure on the existing 717 schedule. Starting in October, one Alaska-branded 737 will fly three daily round trips between HNL and OGG.
That aircraft will operate out of Terminal 1 at Honolulu’s HNL, and guests booked on those flights will check in there rather than at Hawaiian’s usual terminal. Alaska has not disclosed how many 737-800s it will eventually dedicate to full-time Neighbor Island service once the 2028 transition is complete.
The introduction of Hawaiian-branded Boeing 737-800s will bring a significant upgrade to the passenger experience, offering a more modern and comfortable cabin. Travelers will benefit from twice the number of First Class seats, over 30 Premium Class seats, complimentary high-speed Starlink Wi-Fi, reclining leather Recaro seats, and power outlets with USB charging at every seat.
The aircraft will also feature integrated device holders and expanded cargo capacity for oversized items such as surfboards. Additionally, the larger premium cabin will provide more upgrade opportunities for members of the Atmos Rewards and HuakaŹ»i by Hawaiian loyalty programs.
How The Fleet Decision Fits Alaska Accelerate
Alaska Air Group has framed the fleet decision as part of Alaska Accelerate, the company’s strategic plan to grow through a dual-brand structure spanning Alaska and Hawaiian. The plan emphasizes deeper investment in Hawaii and continued expansion of the Hawaiian brand across the combined network.
Since closing its acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines, Alaska Air Group has widened its network reach, replaced both carriers’ loyalty programs with the unified Atmos Rewards program, and brought Hawaiian into the oneworld alliance. The company also has plans in motion for a new Honolulu lounge and broader airport improvements across the state.
Alaska Air Group is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker ALK. The company reported its second-quarter 2026 results the same day it announced the fleet decision, underscoring how closely the Hawaii investment plan is tied to the group’s broader financial reporting calendar.
Alaska Air Group confirmed that Hawaiian Airlines’ inter-island flights will continue to be operated by employees based in Hawaii. The Boeing 737-800 fleet assigned to the Neighbor Island network will be stationed in Honolulu, with flights operated by Honolulu-based pilots and cabin crew. The airline will also retain maintenance operations in Honolulu, ensuring local technical teams continue to support the fleet and preserve Hawaii-based maintenance expertise.
Comparing The Move to Other Post-Merger Changes at Alaska and Hawaiian
The 737-800 decision is the latest in a series of fleet moves Alaska has made since the 2024 merger closed. Alaska has already redeployed the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners that Hawaiian had ordered before the acquisition, shifting them onto Seattle routes to Europe and Asia rather than keeping them on Hawaiian’s original network plan.
Hawaiian’s twin-aisle Airbus A330s are also scheduled for retrofits in the coming years, adding new business-class seats and a premium economy cabin for mainland-to-Hawaii flying. Together with the Neighbor Island fleet decision, these moves show Alaska reshaping nearly every part of the combined widebody and narrowbody fleet inherited from the merger.
Earlier this year, Alaska also placed an order for 105 Boeing 737 MAX 10 aircraft, one of the largest single aircraft orders in the carrier’s history, and the company expects its overall fleet to grow by roughly a third by 2035. That order underscores that the Neighbor Island 737-800s will come from Alaska’s existing mainline fleet rather than new deliveries earmarked specifically for Hawaii.
What The Announcement Means for Hawaii Travelers
For residents, the near-term change is limited: only one Alaska-branded 737 joins the Neighbor Island schedule in October, and the bulk of inter-island flying will continue on 717s until 2028. For visitors and frequent flyers, the bigger change arrives once the full 737-800 fleet enters Hawaiian livery, roughly doubling premium seating and bringing Starlink Wi-Fi to routes that previously had none.
Alaska said it will share further planning details, including how many 737-800s will ultimately serve Neighbor Island routes, as the transition timeline develops.
Alaska Air Group aims to begin introducing Hawaiian-branded Boeing 737-800s on inter-island routes in 2028, with the transition intended to progress rapidly to increase capacity and provide passengers with an upgraded onboard experience.
Before the new fleet enters service, the company will temporarily deploy an Alaska Airlines-branded Boeing 737 to help maintain flight frequencies and meet travel demand across Hawaii. Starting in October, the aircraft will operate three daily round-trip flights between Honolulu’s Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) and Kahului Airport (OGG). These services will depart from Terminal 1 at Honolulu, where passengers traveling on the flights will also check in.