Alaska Air Group has announced that it will be replacing its retiring 717 aircraft with Boeing 737-800s for Hawaiian Airlines’ short-haul inter-island flights. The company, which also owns Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air, stated that this change will greatly enhance the customer experience and increase reliability. Although the exact number of 737s to be used for inter-island flying was not specified.
Hawaiian Airlines, along with Alaska Airlines, currently operates one of the largest fleets of 717s in the world. However, with the production of this narrowbody jet ceasing in 2006, many major airlines have retired this model in recent years. Hawaiian initially intended on keeping the 717 in service, but last year, officials began considering options for a replacement. The transition to the new aircraft is expected to take place in 2028.
Alaska Air Group has stated that the 737s will be branded with Hawaiian markings and will be based in Honolulu. These planes will be operated and crewed by pilots and flight attendants based in Hawaii. Hawaiian CEO Diana Birkett Rakow expressed her excitement for the future of inter-island service, stating that it is an integral part of Hawaiian culture and that this decision reflects the company’s commitment to investing in Hawaii for the long term.
Officials at Alaska Air Group emphasized that the 737 is a durable aircraft that is well-suited for inter-island service, which involves frequent daily flights in a salt-air environment. Additionally, the new 737s will feature upgraded amenities such as twice as many first-class seats, free Starlink wireless internet, and reclining leather seats in all cabins.
Although the fleet transition is still over a year away, Alaska Air Group has announced that an Alaska-branded 737 will be added to the inter-island fleet this fall to supplement operations. Starting in October, this plane will fly three round trips per day between Honolulu and Kahului and will be based in Terminal 1 at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport. This marks the beginning of a new era for Hawaiian Airlines and Alaska Air Group as they continue to invest in the future of inter-island travel in Hawaii.