Hawaiian Airlines is set to make a significant change in its operations to New York City, as the airline will soon substitute its Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners with Airbus A330-200 aircraft for its route between Honolulu and New York.
This route, recognized as one of the longest in Hawaiian’s network, will see the last flight operated by the Dreamliner on September 11, 2025.
The airline’s transition marks a pivotal alteration as it adjusts to a shift in demand following the busy summer travel season.
The new parent company, Alaska Airlines, which acquired Hawaiian Airlines, has plans for the 787s as they seek to enhance their fleet and network.
While Alaska intends to maintain Hawaiian’s brand, there is an active reshuffling of resources as they aim to leverage their new widebody fleet to establish a global gateway through the Seattle hub.
The transition to the Airbus A330-200 will commence at a time when the routes between New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and Honolulu International Airport (HNL) continue to be well-traveled.
Currently, Hawaiian Airlines has been utilizing the Boeing 787-9 on a daily basis since April 22, with this frequency expected to persist throughout the summer months.
Given that Boeing 787s generally hold a higher passenger capacity than the A330-200, this shift may reflect Hawaiian Airlines’ strategy to manage lower demand after the peak season inflates.
However, there is a possibility that the airline could reinstate the Dreamliner service during the next summer season, yet for now, the A330 will continue operating the route at least through April 2026.
Hawaiian Airlines operates a limited fleet of Boeing 787-9 jets, with only three currently in service and another nine on order.
These aircraft serve as a modern addition to Hawaiian’s portfolio, replacing the aging Boeing 767s as part of their long-term strategy.
Conversely, the A330-200 is a more central player in Hawaiian’s fleet, with 24 of these aircraft currently making up significant portions of its medium and long-haul operations.
Beyond widebody jets, Hawaiian has invested in a next-generation narrowbody fleet with 18 A321neos, showcasing its commitment to efficiently serve markets without sufficient demand to warrant a widebody service.
In addition to the A321neo models, Hawaiian Airlines continues to operate the Boeing 717 jets, with 19 currently in its inventory.
As one of the last airlines still utilizing this aircraft type on a commercial basis, its future remains uncertain amidst the evolving landscape of Hawaiian Airlines’ fleet strategy.
The acquisition by Alaska Airlines last year has positioned Hawaiian Airlines as a key player within a combined operation that ranks as the fifth-largest airline in the United States, strengthening both airlines’ presence on the West Coast.
With impending changes to fleet and network structures, the plans to transform Seattle into a global hub signal ambitious goals within the combined operations of Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines.
image source from：https://simpleflying.com/hawaiian-airlines-removes-boeing-787-9-dreamliner-flights-new-york-jfk/
