Hawaiian Airways is on the brink of add premium economic system to its workhorse fleet of long-haul planes.
Final week, executives at Hawaiian’s new guardian firm, Alaska Air Group, confirmed the comfy recliners are deliberate for the airline’s Airbus A330s — older plane that Hawaiian makes use of closely on flights between the U.S. mainland and the Aloha State, and on worldwide routes from Honolulu to Asia, Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific.
The premium economic system cabin, which blends a number of the comforts of enterprise class at a cheaper price level, is a component of a bigger cabin overhaul for the older A330s, which TPG first reported in Could.
Count on that refresh to incorporate extra lie-flat seats and an total nicer onboard expertise — to not point out the brand new cabin in the midst of the airplane, executives mentioned.
“We will be reconfiguring the A330s and rising the first-class cabin … we’ll be placing premium — worldwide premium economic system — seats on [those planes],” Alaska Chief Monetary Officer Shane Tackett mentioned, talking Thursday on the corporate’s earnings name.
These cabin retrofits, Tackett famous, are anticipated over the “subsequent few years” with “refreshed interiors and enhanced facilities.”
Aloha to extra $99 flights to Hawaii: Alaska Airways’ Companion Fare can be utilized on Hawaiian Airways flights
Hawaiian Airbus A330 upgrades deliberate
It needs to be a welcome improve for Hawaiian’s A330s, for a number of causes.
One, the cabins are displaying their age.
Every day E-newsletter
Reward your inbox with the TPG Every day publication
Be a part of over 700,000 readers for breaking information, in-depth guides and unique offers from TPG’s consultants
I flew the twin-aisle plane this spring when Hawaiian inaugurated Alaska Air Group’s first intercontinental service from Seattle-Tacoma Worldwide Airport (SEA) to Tokyo.
Whereas a lie-flat seat is all the time welcome for an extended flight, it is an total dated product up entrance, with the 2-2-2 configuration — and with out the common direct aisle entry that is turn into the business norm for brand new premium worldwide cabins lately.
The coach cabin is coming due for a face-lift, too (though the quick, free Starlink Wi-Fi certain offers the expertise a much more fashionable really feel).
Improve your factors stability: The very best bank card welcome bonuses of July 2025
Hawaiian shedding some Boeing 787 Dreamliner service
In the meantime, at the least a few of Hawaiian’s extra conventional routes are attributable to lose service on its lovely, brand-new Boeing 787 Dreamliners.
That may imply the tip of 787 service on at the least one present Hawaiian route, a spokesperson for the airline confirmed.
Learn extra: Alaska Airways orders extra Boeing 787s, to open Dreamliner base in Seattle
And, Alaska CEO Ben Minicucci has mentioned the corporate’s long-term plans embody Alaska Airways, not Hawaiian, working long-haul Dreamliner service out of Seattle — presumably with the 787s Hawaiian had ordered earlier than the 2 airways merged final yr.
“What you will see is all of the flights, worldwide flights out of Seattle, on 787s. It’s going to be all 787s and it will be operated by Alaska,” Minicucci informed me in an interview in Could.
For Hawaiian’s half, meaning its 24 A330s will stay the “spine,” as Minicucci put it, of its West Coast and worldwide flying out of Hawaii for years to come back.
“That’ll be the first product,” he informed me this spring. “We’re excited in regards to the [A]330s. They’ve such a terrific area of interest in our fleet.”
Premium economic system increase
Quickly, that fleet will apparently provide premium economic system, which has boomed in recognition lately.
A myriad of worldwide airways (together with the highest U.S. carriers) have added the extra spacious recliners in the midst of their long-haul planes, which usually embody an elevated eating service and some further service touches like amenity kits and higher leisure choices, on high of the bigger seat.
Earlier this month, United Airways mentioned it had underestimated the demand for its Premium Plus cabin when it added the premium economic system part to its planes late final decade — and now plans to outfit its jets with extra of these mid-tier seats.
Alaska 40% finished with Boeing 737 updates
Like different carriers, Alaska and Hawaiian have seen premium seats play an outsize function in driving income lately, as vacationers have proven an elevated willingness to pay further for high-end seats.
For that motive, Alaska Airways in 2024 began reconfiguring its personal fleet of Boeing 737s with a better variety of first-class and extra-legroom seats.
Final week, executives mentioned retrofits had been full on 90 of its 737s — about 40% of the planes the provider deliberate to replace.
Associated studying:
