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Hawaiian Airlines announced that it will begin fitting its Airbus A330 fleet with new Leihōkū Business Class suites. It will also be adding a premium economy section for the first time ever, called “Premium Reserve.” These enhancements are expected to roll out beginning in 2028.
In Hawaiian, Leihōkū means “lei of stars,” and the new interior’s warm, colorful night sky palette is intended to influence rest and relaxation. The branding also ties in nicely to 
Alaska Airlines‘ “Aurora” theme, which features a streaming banner of an Aurora Borealis sky on the aft of its aircraft.
Hawaiian’s New Leihōkū Suites
Each aircraft in Hawaiian’s A330 fleet will receive 22 of the Leihōkū suites. The all-new suite features a seat that fully lies flat to convert to a bed, with a privacy door and direct aisle access for every passenger. Mid-cabin suites will have a pass-through window that opens and closes, allowing for additional privacy or conversation. The seat’s armrest area will have a spot for wireless phone charging.
The seats are the Collins Aerospace Super Diamond and also feature a 19-inch 4K entertainment screen. The Super Diamond seat is very popular among airlines and can be found on 
Air Canada, 
American Airlines, China Airlines, 
Qatar Airways, and others. Hawaiian will also offer hotel-quality bedding in the new suites, available for booking beginning next summer. Alaska Air Group CEO Ben Minicucci spoke about the new Leihōkū suites in a statement.
“We believe premium is more than a seat. It’s how guests feel from the moment they book their trip to the moment they arrive at the airport to when they’re in the air with us. Aurora for Alaska and Leihōkū for Hawaiian bring that vision to life in ways that feel true to the Alaska and Hawaiian brands our guests love, while raising the standard for comfort, service, dining and care throughout the journey.”
‘Premium Reserve’ Economy And Upgraded Dining
On Hawaiian’s A330s, a new Premium Reserve section will have 28 seats, with 38 inches of pitch and a slightly wider seat than Economy. These seats will have a 16-inch 4K OLED monitor with Bluetooth connectivity, and AC and USB-C charging for your devices. Atmos Rewards members will have free access to Starlink Wi-Fi, sponsored by T-Mobile.
Hawaiian calls its inflight service Mea Ho‘okipa, meaning “I am host”. Leihōkū passengers will get to partake in dishes inspired by local ingredients and culinary traditions. The menus are curated by Hawaiian Airlines Executive Chef Dell Valdez and will offer wine pairings. In economy, Hawaiian eliminated complimentary meals on most flights this summer, but now offers a pre-order dining menu, managed by Maui-based chef and James Beard Award finalist Sheldon Simeon.
New Lounges, Dedicated Check-in, And More
Hawaiian will have a new premium lounge at Honolulu’s Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL), opening in 2028. The 13,000-square-foot venue will hold up to 200 guests and will be located in Terminal 1’s Mauka Concourse. The lounge will have locally-inspired food and beverages, a signature local coffee experience, a full-service bar, and private workspaces. Hawaiian and Alaska premium passengers will also be served at a new dedicated check-in point.
Alaska Airlines will also be receiving similar cabin upgrades. Their Boeing 787-9 and 787-10 Dreamliner fleets will receive 34 Aurora Suites and 28 Premium Reserve seats. The forthcoming 737-10 MAX will have twelve. At least 25 of the MAX will have 12 Aurora Suites and 12 Premium Reserve. Alaska is opening a new 41,000 square-foot lounge at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) next year.
Hawaiian’s new A330 seats will bring its premium seating configuration to 40 percent of the aircraft, up from 30 percent today. While we still have quite a bit of time to wait for these changes, they bring strong evidence of how Hawaiian and Alaska are becoming big players in premium service.
