Alaska Air Group has selected the Boeing 737-800 to replace Hawaiian Airlines’ long-serving Boeing 717 fleet on inter-island services.
The transition is scheduled to begin in 2028, although the company has not disclosed how many Boeing 737s will be assigned or set a final retirement date for the 19-strong 717 fleet.
The aircraft are expected to be transferred from Alaska Airlines as incoming 737 MAX deliveries allow existing 737-800s to be reassigned.
Configured with 161 seats, the 737-800 will offer 33 more places than Hawaiian’s 128-seat 717s. The cabin will include 16 first class seats, double the present number, more than 30 premium class seats, reclining Recaro seating, power outlets, USB charging and free Starlink Wi-Fi.
Alaska said the type’s proven airframe and engines were suited to the short sectors, frequent cycles and corrosive salt-air environment encountered on Hawaiian’s Neighbour Island network.
Ahead of the permanent transition, one Alaska-branded 737 will begin operating three daily Honolulu-Kahului round trips in October 2026, supplementing the existing 717 schedule and providing additional capacity.
