dailynewsnblog
Alaska Airlines has announced that it has selected the Boeing 737-800 to replace the inter-island 717-200s that currently operate under the Hawaiian Airlines banner. These rear-engined twinjets have been a perfect fit for the short and sharp rotations that characterize inter-island flying, but it is no secret that they aren’t getting any younger. As such, a replacement aircraft has been eyed for some time.
The 
Boeing 737-800 looks set to be an advantageous choice for Hawaiian Airlines, as, rather than having to splash out on new jets to replace its loyal Boeing 717-200s, it will be able to inherit these directly from Alaska Airlines, the carrier that it was merged into last year. These aircraft are younger than the 717s that they are set to replace, and they also have more capacity, especially in premium seating.
All Change
The Alaska Air Group confirmed this decision in a statement published yesterday, saying that the fleet transition, which is set to begin in 2028, will “bring proven, reliable aircraft with premium interiors and fast, free Starlink Wi-Fi to Neighbor Island flying.” On this front, PaxEx Aero notes that Alaska Airlines will base a dedicated sub-fleet of 737-800s in Hawaii, with Hawaiian pilots and cabin crew operating them.
Conscious of ensuring that the new fleet retains a Hawaiian identity, 
Alaska Airlines was also keen to specifically highlight that the 737s will offer inter-island flyers “more room in cargo for surfboards.” This type of flying features high-cycle usage with lots of short flights, with Alaska Airlines adding that the 737’s “airframes and engines can withstand the high cycles.” Hawaiian CEO Diana Birkett Rakow said:
“This decision reflects our commitment to invest in Hawai‘i for the long term, to strengthen Hawaiian Airlines and to honor the local expertise, culture and care that have made Hawaiian the airline of Hawai‘i for nearly a century.”
A Significant Upgrade
According to present fleet data made available by ch-aviation, the 19 units of the Boeing 717-200 that are currently registered with Alaska Airlines under the Hawaiian Airlines brand are 24.5 years old on average. Meanwhile, the carrier’s 59 737-800s, of which a subfleet will be transferred to Hawaii in the coming years, are somewhat younger, clocking in at a mean age of 18.3 years old. They are also larger.
Indeed, as detailed in the table below based on current fleet data made available by aeroLOPA, in terms of raw capacity, the 737-800 can carry 25.78% more passengers, with a grand total of 161 seats compared to the 717-200’s 128. It also has more of a premium edge, with twice as many first class seats. In economy, 30 of the 145 seats are classified as ‘Premium Class,’ offering several inches more legroom.
Comparing The Two Aircraft | ||
|---|---|---|
Seats / Aircraft | Hawaiian Airlines Boeing 717-200 | Alaska Airlines Boeing 737-800 |
First Class | Eight | 16 |
Premium Class | None | 30 |
Economy Class | 120 | 115 |
Total | 128 | 161 |
While Alaska Airlines plans to put the wheels of the full-scale fleet transition into motion in 2028, it will begin operating inter-island flights within Hawaii using the Boeing 737-800 somewhat sooner. Indeed, the carrier confirmed yesterday that “starting in October, one Alaska-branded 737 aircraft will fly three round trips per day between Honolulu and Kahului” in order to meet Hawaii’s needs in the shorter term.
Where Do Hawaiian Airlines’ Boeing 717s Currently Fly?
According to present scheduling data made available by Cirium, an aviation analytics company, Alaska Airlines has penciled in a grand total of 4,264 flights using Hawaiian Airlines’ Boeing 717-200 jets this month. Their top route will link Honolulu (HNL) with Kahului (OGG) some 562 times in each direction in July alone, with 16 to 19 rotations a day. This corridor is only 101 miles (162.5 km) in length.
Simple Flying Quiz
Think you really know Alaska Airlines?
Answer 10 questions and put your knowledge to the test
Think you really know Alaska Airlines?
Answer 10 questions and put your knowledge to the test
Easy (15s)Medium (10s)Hard (5s)
Other key destinations for the type from Honolulu include Lihue (LIH), with 514 July rotations, Kona (KOA) with 548, and Hilo with 364. Elsewhere, the carrier also operates three daily rotations with the Boeing 717-200 from Kahului to Kona and Lihue, while the type is used daily to link Kona with Lihue. Hilo to Kahului has the lowest frequency, with 27 rotations this month or four per week on average.
