Will Hawaiian Airlines’ Widebody Planes Fly the Coop?

The recent merger between Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines prompts significant speculation about what’s next for Hawaii’s flagship carrier.

One key question is whether Hawaiian Airlines’ widebody aircraft fleet, consisting of Airbus A330s and the newly introduced Boeing 787s (pictured), will remain in Hawaii or over time be transferred to Alaska’s network based in Seattle.

Hawaiian Airlines has long been crucial in connecting Hawaii to mainland U.S. and international destinations. These widebody jets enable direct flights to North America, Asia, Australia, and the South Pacific, providing access to both visitors and residents.

Now, as Alaska Air Group evaluates the potential profitability of Hawaiian’s operations, Hawaii faces the prospect of losing a valuable asset that has supported its tourism industry for decades: its widebody jets.

Hawaiian Airlines’ widebody fleet: Hawaii’s vital resource.

Hawaiian Airlines’ widebody planes include 24 decade-old Airbus A330-200s and two recently added Boeing 787-9s. These are the workhorses of the airline’s long-haul operations, with the fleet of 18 narrow-body A321neo planes.

If Alaska Air Group decides to reassign some of these widebody aircraft, currently numbered at 26, to its Seattle hub, Hawaii could lose some capacity to serve these crucial markets. These could be replaced with Boeing 737 MAX planes, which, together with its legacy 737 planes, are the mainstay of the Alaska Airlines fleet.

The unique role of Hawaii’s Pacific hub.

Hawaii has long been a gateway between the U.S. mainland and the broader Asia-Pacific region. Honolulu International Airport serves as a vital hub for tourists, residents, and commerce. Hawaiian Airlines has capitalized on its geographical advantage by offering direct widebody flights to cities in Japan, South Korea, and Australia, among others.

The merger, however, is poised to mix up the Hawaiian Airlines fleet. While Alaska Airlines has committed to maintaining the Hawaiian brand, the question remains whether it will continue prioritizing Hawaii’s needs like standalone Hawaiian Airlines once did.

If some of Hawaiian Airlines’ widebody planes are redirected to Seattle, likely for new international routes, it isn’t entirely clear how Hawaiian will serve destinations beyond the reach of its A321neo fleet.

How can Alaska Air Group keep Hawaii’s needs at the forefront?

Alaska Air faces a delicate balancing act in Hawaii. On the one hand, the company needs to improve Hawaiian Airlines’ dismal financial performance, which had put the airline on the verge of bankruptcy prior to Alaska’s purchase. At the same time, Alaska must consider the broader impact on Hawaii if Hawaiian’s widebody planes are reassigned to Alaska’s Seattle-based operations.

Alaska Air Group’s recent decision to hire an International Development Director suggests that the company is serious about expanding its long-haul operations. However, could this move come at a cost to Hawaii if it results in the transfer of Hawaiian’s widebody aircraft out of the islands?

Alaska’s expertise in aircraft deployment.

Alaska Airlines is adept at deploying the most efficient aircraft for each route, as will undoubtedly be the case in Hawaii. Recently, for example, they swapped out their smaller Embraer E175 jets with larger Boeing 737 planes on a Seattle to California route. That move accommodated increased demand while allowing them to operate with greater efficiency.

As Alaska Air integrates Hawaiian Airlines, this proven ability to optimize fleet deployment could play a role in determining how Hawaiian’s wide-body planes are utilized—whether those stay in Hawaii or are repurposed for distant markets. That won’t happen overnight, and there are issues that Alaska will need to navigate including Seattle gate constraints.

The Alaska Airlines-Hawaiian Airlines merger comes with opportunities and risks.

While Alaska Airlines will undoubtedly look to improve Hawaiian Air’s financial situation significantly, it must also carefully consider the potential consequences for Hawaii operations if widebody aircraft are shifted away from Honolulu.

Hawaiian Airlines has been a cornerstone of Hawaii’s travel and tourism industry, and the widebody fleet has played a crucial role in maintaining Hawaii’s connectivity to the world.

The future of Hawaiian Airlines’ widebody fleet remains uncertain for the time being. However, one thing is clear: Hawaii has much to lose if these planes “fly the coop,” and Alaska Air Group will need to tread carefully to avoid grounding Hawaii’s tourism industry.

We welcome your thoughts on the Hawaiian Air widebody fleet.