Meet the Hawaiian Airlines engineer turning historic aircraft into LEGO art

By Hawaiian Airlines

Aug 19, 2026

By day, Ashton S. helps keep Hawaiian Airlines’ aircraft cabins in top shape, designing, maintaining and troubleshooting cabin systems as a Honolulu-based interior engineer. By night, he builds detailed replicas of the airline’s most iconic aircraft from his dining room table, one LEGO brick at a time.

Through Oct. 11, Oʻahu visitors can experience Ashton’s hobby up close when visiting Bishop Museum’s “Aloha Bricks ’26: Stories of Hawaiʻi” exhibit, where five of his custom-built LEGO aircraft models are on display. The models pay homage to five aircraft types that played pivotal roles in Hawaiian’s nearly century-long history: the 1929 Bellanca CH-300 Pacemaker, a Douglas DC-3 and DC-9, a Boeing 717 and 787 Dreamliner.

The “Aloha Bricks” display marries Ashton’s longtime interest in taking things apart and rebuilding them or turning the pieces into something new. “I’ve always been into creating things,” he said. “Whether it was building train tracks across my floor as a kid or building LEGO models, I’ve always liked figuring out how things work.”

That love of tinkering led Ashton to earn a mechanical engineering degree from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, before starting his career at Hawaiian. Now, he spends his days reenvisioning and finding solutions for aircraft cabin furnishings and materials, including seats, galley appliances, wall placards, stowage bins and lighting.

As he works, he draws on the problem-solving skills he developed from building with LEGO bricks as a child.

ORDER - Alaska Airlines, Inc. selects 737-800s to strengthen Hawaiian Airlines’ Neighbor Island service, enhancing the guest experience and increasing capacity

Hawaiian Airlines-branded Boeing 737-800s will replace the retiring Boeing 717 fleet, bringing proven, reliable aircraft with premium interiors and fast, free Starlink Wi-Fi to Neighbor Island flying.

The future fleet will be based in Honolulu (HNL) and flown and crewed by Honolulu-based pilots and flight attendants.

This represents the next step in the journey to bring more value to Hawai‘i and the Hawai‘i traveler, building on an expanded network, industry-leading loyalty program and comprehensive investments across technology, aircraft, airports, guest experience and community.

Alaska Airlines, Inc. today announced the future fleet plan for Hawaiian Airlines’ Neighbor Island flying – a modern fleet of Hawaiian-branded Boeing 737-800 aircraft that will replace Hawaiian’s retiring Boeing 717 fleet, delivering a significantly improved guest experience and greater reliability for Hawai‘i and the Hawai‘i traveler.

The 737-800 aircraft will feature a modern premium onboard experience that includes:

• Twice as many First Class seats and the addition of more than 30 Premium Class seats, creating more upgrade opportunities for Huaka‘i by Hawaiian and Atmos™ Rewards members
• 
  
• Fast, free Starlink Wi-Fi on all flights
• 
  
• More room in cargo for surfboards
• 
  
• Reclining leather Recaro seats throughout the aircraft
• 
  
• 110V power outlets, USB charging and seatback device holders at every seat

The future fleet will carry the Hawaiian brand and focus on Neighbor Island service, based in Honolulu (HNL). The airline’s plan is for these aircraft to be flown by Honolulu-based pilots and flight attendants once the integration is complete, sustaining the safe, reliable and frequent service Hawai‘i residents depend on for work, school, family, medical care and everyday life across the Islands while delivering a more modern and premium onboard experience for all guests.
Neighbor Island flying is uniquely demanding, with short segments, frequent daily cycles and operations in a salt-air environment. 

The 737-800 is a durable, reliable and proven aircraft with airframes and engines that can withstand the high cycles of Neighbor Island operations, while enabling the airline to maintain capacity to meet demand with a full schedule of frequent departures from morning to evening.

The goal is to begin the fleet transition in 2028 and move quickly to bring this additional capacity and enhanced experience to our guests. 

Additional details will be shared as planning continues.
To sustain frequency and capacity and meet the needs of Hawai‘i’s communities in the near-term, prior to the transition, Alaska will supplement 717 Neighbor Island flying with 737 capacity. 

Starting in October, one Alaska-branded 737 aircraft will fly three round trips per day between Honolulu and Kahului (OGG). This 737 will operate out of Terminal 1 at Honolulu’s Daniel K. Inouye International Airport, and guests will be able to check in at Terminal 1.
The fleet decision is a key step in Alaska Accelerate, Alaska Air Group’s strategic plan to deliver long-term growth by strengthening the company’s dual-brand strategy, expanding the reach of Hawaiian and investing in the markets that matter most to guests. 

Strength in Hawai‘i and continued investment in the Hawaiian brand are central to that plan.
Since combining Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines, the company has continued to invest in Hawai‘i, strengthening connectivity through a broader network, launching a new, more valuable loyalty program, improving technology, planning a new Honolulu lounge and airport improvements across Hawai‘i, and elevating the guest experience while deepening its commitment to local communities. The future Neighbor Island fleet builds on that journey, serving Hawai‘i better together while honoring and sustaining two strong and beloved brands.

FLEET - Alaska Air Group Evaluates Replacements for Hawaiian Airlines' Boeing 717s

Alaska Air Group is evaluating the future of Hawaiian Airlines' fleet of 19 Boeing 717 aircraft, which operate exclusively inter-island flights in Hawaii. Hawaiian has operated this model for over two decades, with the average age of the fleet approaching 24 years.

Hawaiian also flies the Airbus A321neo on some inter-island flights.

The B737 is one of the possible replacements.

Photos: Duncan Stewart
 

SPECIAL LIVERY - ‘Aloha all around the world:’ Hawaiian Airlines unveils oneworld alliance livery aircraft featuring ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi

Hawaiian’s Airbus A330 aircraft livery will share Hawaiian language with guests from around the world

Hawaiian celebrated the special aircraft unveiling with a donation of $10K each to ʻIolani Palace and the Polynesian Voyaging Society

Hawaiian Airlines today unveiled a special aircraft livery celebrating its membership in the oneworld® alliance with a design that honors ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi, the Hawaiian language, with the phrase “Aloha a puni ka honua,” or “Aloha all around the world.”

Hawaiian’s widebody Airbus A330 carrying the oneworld mark will continue to feature the airline’s iconic Pualani on the tail and a maile lei wrapped around the fuselage as it welcomes guests across the airline’s domestic and international transpacific network. The phrase “Aloha all around the world” reflects both the expanded global reach of the alliance and Hawaiian’s mission to share warm hospitality with a broader audience.

This livery is a powerful symbol of what it means for Hawaiian Airlines to be part of the oneworld alliance — sharing aloha, ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi and our deep connection to Hawaiʻi with more people around the globe. Language is essential to preserving Hawaiʻi’s culture. By placing ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi on our aircraft, we honor our heritage and carry the voice of Hawaiʻi everywhere we fly. We are deeply proud to share our culture, our values and our aloha with the world.”
Alisa Onishi
Managing Director of Hawaiʻi Marketing
Hawaiian Airlines 

Hawaiian unveiled its oneworld alliance aircraft livery during a celebration event in Honolulu at its Charles I. Elliott Maintenance and Cargo Facility, where it also donated $10,000 each to the ‘Iolani Palace and the Polynesian Voyaging Society – two of the airline’s longstanding partners that perpetuate Hawai‘i’s culture and traditions.
Hawaiian’s oneworld membership, the 96-year carrier’s first entry into a major alliance, makes it easier than ever for travelers worldwide to visit Hawai‘i – a premier global leisure destination – and experience the airline’s award-winning hospitality the moment they step onboard.
Hawaiian Airlines guests who are members of Atmos™ Rewards, the loyalty program of the combined Hawaiian and Alaska Airlines – including Huaka‘i by Hawaiian, which provides exclusive benefits for Hawai‘i residents – can earn and redeem points and enjoy elite status when traveling on any of the 15 other oneworld airlines that serve nearly 1,000 global destinations across more than 170 countries throughout the Asia‑Pacific region, the U.S. continent, Europe and beyond. Members of oneworld alliance airlines’ loyalty programs can earn and redeem points and have their elite status recognized on all Hawaiian Airlines flights.

SPECIAL LIVERY - Three new Hawaiian Airlines liveries set sail this summer for Disney’s live-action ‘Moana’

Hawaiian Airlines today unveiled the first of its three aircraft designs for Disney’s live-action “Moana” on an Airbus A321neo, ahead of the film’s July 10 debut.

In July, the remaining two designs will make a splash on an A330 — Hawaiian’s flagship transpacific aircraft — and on a Boeing 717 flying between the Hawaiian Islands.

Disney’s live-action “Moana” is set to make waves in theaters July 10, and Hawaiian Airlines is marking the courageous voyager’s next great adventure with three commemorative liveries that capture the daring spirit of exploration and wayfinding.
Hawaiian today unveiled the first of its three “Moana” aircraft designs on an Airbus A321neo (N227HA) that connects Hawaiʻi to the U.S. West Coast and the Cook Islands. In July, the remaining two designs will make a splash on an A330 — Hawaiian’s flagship transpacific aircraft — and on a Boeing 717 flying between the Hawaiian Islands.

The new “Moana” liveries will inspire guests around the world with a message of exploration – “Voyage beyond the reef” – on all three aircraft ahead of the theatrical release of Disney’s highly anticipated reimagining on July 10. Characters from the film – including the shape-shifting demigod Maui as a powerful hawk wielding his iconic fishhook and the coconut-armored Kakamora catching rides in the sea breeze – appear throughout each design. Guiding the crew on their journey from the wingtips are Moana’s animal friends Heihei, the clumsy chicken, and Pua, the adorable pot-bellied pig. Moana’s beloved island friends will also appear in the overhead luggage bins inside the aircrafts’ cabin.

Voyaging is at the heart of who we are as the airline of Hawaiʻi, a place grounded in a legacy that began with navigators who crossed the Pacific using traditional wayfinding techniques. We’re proud to continue carrying that spirit forward and bring Moana’s journey to life once again as we connect our island home to the world.”

Alisa Onishi

Managing Director of Hawaiʻi Marketing

Hawaiian Airlines 

The three live-action “Moana” aircraft join previous liveries that celebrated the Disney film’s animated predecessors, “Moana” and “Moana 2.” Hawaiian, which has served Hawaiʻi for more than 96 years, has also long honored the legacy of early Polynesian voyagers and celestial navigation across its fleet, including naming each aircraft after native birds, stars, plants and forests.

SPECIAL COLOURS - HAWAIIAN AIRLINES / AIRBUS A321NEO / N216HA - "Disney’s Lilo & Stitch"

 Photo: Duncan Stewart

ROUTES - The wait is over: Hawaiian Airlines’ seasonal Auckland service returns this November

 

Hawaiian Airlines’ seasonal service between Honolulu and Auckland is set to resume Nov. 16 with three-times weekly flying on the Airbus A330.

The seasonal flights will run through the end of April 2026, offering our guests nonstop flights between New Zealand and Hawaiʻi, plus convenient one-stop connections to and from the U.S. continent.

Our service operates during the Southern Hemisphere summer, when New Zealand comes alive with warm weather while also providing ample connectivity throughout the busy holiday season.

Hawaiian Airlines and Alaska Airlines are gearing up for the return of seasonal New Zealand flying. The three-times weekly service between Honolulu (HNL) and Auckland (AKL) returns on Nov. 16 and runs through the end of April 2026, offering guests nonstop flights between New Zealand and Hawaiʻi, plus convenient one-stop connections to and from the U.S. continent.

We know Kiwi travelers have long awaited the return of our seasonal service, and our crews are thrilled to welcome them onboard once again with the authentic hospitality and care for which Hawaiian Airlines is known. Now, thanks to the strength of our combined global network, every guest flying from Hawaiʻi, the U.S. mainland and New Zealand will have more options than ever to explore the world.”

Andrew Stanbury

Regional director of the South Pacific

Hawaiian Airlines and Alaska Airlines

Photo: Duncan Stewart

FLEET - Hawaiian Airlines converts B787-9 order into B787-10s

 Hawaiian Airlines (HA, Honolulu) has converted orders for five B787-9s to five B787-10s, with one further delivery position assumed by Boeing Customer Finance.

"We can confirm we have converted some of our B787s to -10s. We will share more details, including the number and timing of deliveries, soon," parent holding Alaska Air Group told Reuters.

The carrier currently has orders for six B787-9s, on top of four of the type it already operates, according to ch-aviation fleets data. All of the Boeing widebodies are expected to be stationed at Seattle Tacoma International to operate Alaska Airlines’ new long-haul routes to Europe and Asia.

ch-aviation data shows Hawaiian Airlines’ fleet comprises eighteen A321-200Ns, twenty-four A330-200s, ten A330-300(P2F)s, nineteen B717-200s, and four B787-9s.

Alaska Air Group’s plans at the start of 2025 were for Hawaiian Airlines to increase its fleet of B787-9s to five by the end of the year (receiving three during this period), add two more in 2026, and four in 2027.

Hawaiian Airlines was not immediately available for comment.

CH Aviation / Alaska

ORDER - ALASKA AIRLINES TO EXERCISE OPTION FOR FIVE BOEING 787-9

SEATTLE — Alaska Airlines (AS), now operating as Alaska-Hawaiian following the merger with Hawaiian Airlines (HA), is moving forward with plans to expand its wide-body fleet. According to sources familiar with the matter and confirmed via the Alaska Pilots Podcast, the airline is exercising options for five additional Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners.

While the move had been circulating internally, public confirmation came through the AS pilots' union podcast released on July 2, 2025. Along with the 787 order, the podcast also confirmed that Alaska-Hawaiian is firming additional options for the Boeing 737-10.

The airline is also preparing to open a new 787 pilot base in Seattle. The base will initially accommodate 15 captains and 30 first officers, with training classes to be made available to current AS pilots. This development comes even though Alaska and Hawaiian pilots have not yet finalized a merged contract.

The 787 expansion aligns with AS-HA’s broader strategy to grow its long-haul and transpacific footprint, leveraging Hawaiian’s established routes and Alaska’s West Coast hubs.

In brief, here is the scope of Alaska Airlines's future operations with the Boeing 787:

Seattle to Rome Route: Alaska Airlines will launch a new nonstop route between Seattle and Rome in May 2026, which will be operated by a Boeing 787-9. This is Alaska's first European destination and will mark a new chapter for their long-haul flying.

Utilizing Hawaiian's Fleet: Prior to the merger, Alaska Airlines did not operate wide-body aircraft. The acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines gave Alaska access to a fleet of widebody planes, including the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner.

Seattle as a Global Gateway: Alaska is developing Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) into a global hub, with plans to serve at least a dozen international destinations with wide-body aircraft by 2030. The Boeing 787 will play a key role in this expansion.

CH Aviation

Photo: Duncan Stewart

SPECIAL COLOURS - Hawaiian Airlines / A321-271N / N208HA - "Moana 2" Welcome voyagers

Duncan Stewart - LAX
 

ROUTES - Alaska Airlines plans Europe with Hawaiian aircraft in 2026

Alaska Airlines (AS, Seattle Tacoma International) plans to further expand its long-haul network out of Seattle Tacoma International using widebody aircraft sourced from subsidiary Hawaiian Airlines (HA, Honolulu), and aims to debut its first European route in 2026, chief executive officer Ben Minicucci told the Seattle Times.

The expansion goes a step further than the new services from Seattle to Tokyo Narita, which debuted on May 12, 2025, and to Seoul Incheon, which begin in September 2025. They will be operated by Hawaiian Airlines using its A330-200s and under its 'HA' code. However, Hawaiian Airlines had already served the two cities out of Honolulu, and has significant experience with flying to Asia. In turn, neither of the airlines has ever flown to Europe.

Minicucci did not disclose the first European destination.

Alaska Airlines said it plans to serve 12 long-haul destinations out of Seattle by 2030.

The merger of the two airlines following the acquisition of Hawaiian Holdings by Alaska Air Group allows the Seattle-based carrier to quickly and relatively easily enter the long-haul market. Alaska Airlines itself has never operated widebody aircraft.

Meanwhile, Hawaiian Airlines brought twenty-four A330-200s and three B787-9s to the combined passenger fleet. It has a further nine B787s on order from Boeing (three via Boeing Capital) and expects to take two in 2025, two in 2026, three in 2027, and the remaining two in 2028. Despite the growing B787 fleet, the group has no plans to retire any A330s until at least the end of 2027, according to a recent financial report.

The A330s will remain based out of Honolulu, while at least some of the B787s will be maintained at an as-of-yet undisclosed base on the US West Coast, Minicucci confirmed.

Hawaiian currently deploys the three B787s exclusively between Hawai'i and the US mainland, connecting Honolulu with Los Angeles International and New York JFK. Concurrently, the A330s fly both to the mainland and to international destinations in Asia and the Pacific region.

Alaska Airlines Group plans to obtain a single operating certificate for both airlines by the end of 2025, although it will retain the two separate brands due to their local recognition.

"[Hawaiian's] brand is just too special. It has a lot of equity and value,

Hawaiian

 

SPECIAL SCHEME - Hawaiian Airlines and Disney's Lilo & Stitch Embark on a Playful New Adventure

The carrier today entered the first of three “Lilo & Stitch” character aircraft designs into service

HONOLULU – Hawaiian Airlines is celebrating the upcoming live-action release of Disney’s Lilo & Stitch, landing in theaters May 23, with playful new looks in the skies. Today, travelers can spot Stitch striking his best Pualani profile on Hawaiian’s Airbus A330, the first of three specially-designed aircraft. Next week, Hawaiian will introduce its second livery design – a narrow-body Airbus A321 covered in Stitch’s wildly creative masterpiece - with the third design on the Boeing 717 revealed next month.

Hawaii’s flagship carrier and Disney have teamed up to highlight a key theme of the film: the importance of ‘ohana (family). As Hawaii’s airline, Hawaiian prides itself on connecting people with aloha and providing authentic Hawaiian hospitality that makes guests feel like they’re a part of our ‘ohana.

The second livery design mockup features Stitch’s wildly creative masterpiece on the Airbus A321


"At Hawaiian Airlines, Hawai‘i is our home, and we consider our guests to be our ‘ohana,” said Alisa Onishi, director of brand and culture at Hawaiian Airlines. “Our hope is that all who visit our islands feel welcomed from the moment they step onboard, just as Lilo welcomed Stitch. We're also excited to have Stitch be our new Travel Pono ambassador through an AR experience and as the star of our in-flight video, where he learns valuable lessons on how to be a mindful visitor.”

Now through the summer, Hawaiian Airlines is bringing a little extra mischief to the skies with special Stitch-themed experiences. Guests can look forward to unique interactions with Stitch as he disrupts iconic in-flight moments and adds a touch of fun to their journey through surprise-and-delight experiences curated by Hawaiian, including:

In-Flight Video: Stitch interrupts the carrier’s Travel Pono video spotlighting tips on how guests can visit the Hawaiian Islands responsibly.

AR Experiences: Hawaiian Airlines presents “Searching for Stitch” encouraging guests to find Stitch through an interactive digital travel guide throughout the Hawaiian Islands. Participants can collect animated Stitch’s at various locations on Hawaii Island, Kauai, Maui, Molokai, Lanai and Oahu, each location representing pillars of Hawaiian's Travel Pono program.

Co-Branded Merchandise: Exclusive Lilo & Stitch-themed apparel and merchandise will be available onboard select flights and online at LogoStore.HawaiianAirlines.com.

Hawaiian offers dozens of in-flight movies and TV shows for children of all ages, including the animated film, Lilo & Stitch and Lilo & Stitch: The Series. Guests on Hawaiian’s Airbus flights are also encouraged to stream their favorite Disney movies with the airline’s complimentary high-speed Starlink Wi-Fi.

More information can be found at Lilo & Stitch | Hawaiian Airlines   | Hawaiian Airlines.

About Lilo & Stitch

“Lilo & Stitch,” the wildly funny and touching story of a lonely Hawaiian girl and the fugitive alien who helps to mend her broken family, will open exclusively in theaters May 23, 2025. A live-action reimagining of Disney’s 2002 animated classic, “Lilo & Stitch” is directed by Dean Fleischer Camp, the Oscar®-nominated filmmaker behind the animated feature film “Marcel the Shell with Shoes On,” with a screenplay by Chris Kekaniokalani Bright and Mike Van Waes, and stars Sydney Elizebeth Agudong, Billy Magnussen, Tia Carrere, Hannah Waddingham, Chris Sanders, with Courtney B. Vance, and Zach Galifianakis, and introducing Maia Kealoha. The film is produced by Jonathan Eirich, p.g.a. and Dan Lin, with Tom Peitzman, Ryan Halprin, Louie Provost, Thomas Schumacher serving as executive producers.

Airbus February 2025 orders & deliveries

February was a quiet month for Airbus. It only received fourteen orders and delivered 40 new Airbuses. The details, as always, can be found below.

Ordered were:

6 A321neos by Korean Air

8 A321neos by an Undisclosed customer

Delivered were:

1 A320neo to Aegean Airlines

1 A220-300 to AirBaltic

1 A350-900 to Air France

1 A321neo to American Airlines

1 A321neo to Asiana Airlines

1 A320neo to British Airways

3 A321neos to China Eastern Airlines

1 A321neo to China Southern Airlines

1 A320neo to Colorful Guizhou Airlines

1 A220-300 to Delta Air Lines

2 A321neos to Delta Air Lines

1 A330-900 to Delta Air Lines

1 A320neo to flynas

1 A321neo to Frontier Airlines

1 A320neo to Hainan Airlines

1 A321neo to Icelandair

2 A321neos to IndiGo

1 A220-300 to ITA Airways

1 A321neo to Jet2.com

1 A330-900 to Malaysia Airlines

1 A320neo to Sichuan Airlines

1 A220-300 to Smartwings

2 A321neos to Spirit Airlines

1 A320neo to Swiss

1 A319neo to Tibet Airlines

1 A321neo to Transavia

4 A320neos to Transavia France

1 A320neo to Volaris

1 A321neo to Volaris

3 A321neos to Wizz Air

Photo: Duncan Stewart - LAX

 

SPECIAL SCHEME - Hawaiian Airlines Welcomes Guests on an Exciting New Voyage with Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Moana 2”

The carrier today unveiled the first of three “Moana 2” character aircraft designs and launched the Navigate Your Own Adventure global sweepstakes

HONOLULU – Hawaiian Airlines today celebrated the upcoming epic animated musical, Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Moana 2,” coming to theaters Nov. 27, by unveiling the first of three “Moana 2” aircraft designs. Hawaiian’s Airbus A330 aircraft features the courageous wayfinder Moana; the shape-shifting demigod, Maui, the small-but-menacing Kakamora, as well as a “Welcome Voyagers” message for all guests embarking on their next adventure onboard Hawaiʻi’s hometown airline.

“As modern-day voyagers, we pride ourselves in sharing our host culture and ensuring our guests are immersed in unparalleled comfort and breathtaking discovery as they travel with us across the Pacific Ocean,” said Alisa Onishi, director of brand and culture at Hawaiian Airlines. “Following the success of our first collaboration with ‘Moana,’ we are honored to reintroduce Moana, Maui, and their friends to our guests traveling between Hawaiʻi and Asia, Oceania, the U.S. continent and within the Hawaiian Islands.”

Next month, Hawaiian will reveal two additional custom character decals adorning an Airbus A321neo, which serves select U.S. markets and the Cook Islands, and a Boeing 717 aircraft, which operates between the Hawaiian Islands. The overhead luggage bins on all three “Moana 2”-themed aircraft are also being decorated with characters and artwork from the film. Guests can continue the exploration with a bespoke “Moana 2” AR experience, which will debut with the second livery reveal. The planes will fly on Hawaiian’s regularly scheduled U.S. domestic routes as well as to international destinations including American Samoa, Australia, Cook Islands, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea and Tahiti through March 2025.

A wayfinding adventure with Disney’s “Moana 2

“As ‘Moana 2’ sails into theaters this Thanksgiving, we’re thrilled to team up once again with our friends at Hawaiian Airlines on such an exciting promotion that will bring Moana, Maui and their crew to new heights,” said Lylle Breier, EVP, Partnerships, Promotions, Synergy & Events at Walt Disney Studios.

To celebrate the collaboration, Hawaiian will surprise and delight guests on the first A330, A321 and Boeing B717 flights with special gifts. The airline today also announced its Navigate Your Own Adventure sweepstakes*, which kicks off today and runs through Nov. 30 for residents in the United States, Australia, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea. Five winners – one from each market – will receive 500,000 HawaiianMiles.

Hawaiian honors traditional celestial navigational practices used by early Polynesian voyagers by naming its aircraft after local birds, stars and native plants and forests. Each “Moana 2” aircraft was specially chosen based on its name:

Hōkūleʻa / Airbus A330: Hawaiian name for Hawaiʻi’s zenith star Arcturus, as well as the famed Hawaiian voyaging canoe.

Koa / Airbus A321neo: Acacia koa is the preferred wood for building Polynesian voyaging canoes.

Elepaio / Boeing 717: Native Hawaiian bird considered to be the guardian of canoe builders.

A full list of Hawaiian’s aircraft names can be found here. Follow us at @HawaiianAirlines as we reveal more exciting details about this collaboration.

About Moana 2

Walt Disney Animation Studios’ epic animated musical “Moana 2” reunites Moana (voice of Auli‘i Cravalho) and Maui (voice of Dwayne Johnson) three years later for an expansive new voyage alongside a crew of unlikely seafarers. After receiving an unexpected call from her wayfinding ancestors, Moana must journey to the far seas of Oceania and into dangerous, long-lost waters for an adventure unlike anything she’s ever faced. The voice cast also includes Rachel House, Temuera Morrison, Nicole Scherzinger, Hualālai Chung, David Fane, Rose Matafeo, Awhimai Fraser, Gerald Ramsey, and Khaleesi Lambert-Tsuda, who lends her voice to Moana’s adoring and adorable little sister, Simea. Directed by David Derrick Jr., Jason Hand and Dana Ledoux Miller, and produced by Christina Chen and Yvett Merino, “Moana 2” features music by Grammy® winners Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear, Grammy nominee Opetaia Foa‘i, and three-time Grammy winner Mark Mancina. Jared Bush and Miller are writing the film, which is executive produced by Jennifer Lee, Bush and Johnson. “Moana 2” opens in theaters on Nov. 27, 2024.Tickets are now available for purchase at Fandango, Atom Tickets, and all theater websites.

 

ROUTES - ALASKA AIRLINES / HAWAIIAN AIRLINES LAUNCHES CODESHARE SERVICE FROM OCT 2024

Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines starting tomorrow (02OCT24) launches reciprocal codeshare partnership, initially covering service between Hawaii and US Mainland. Reservations for codeshare service opened since mid-week last week.

Planned codeshare routes include the following.

Alaska Airlines operated by Hawaiian Airlines
Honolulu – Austin

Honolulu – Boston

Honolulu – Las Vegas

Honolulu – Long Beach

Honolulu – Los Angeles

Honolulu – New York JFK

Honolulu – Oakland

Honolulu – Ontario

Honolulu – Phoenix

Honolulu – Portland OR

Honolulu – Sacramento

Honolulu – Salt Lake City

Honolulu – San Diego

Honolulu – San Francisco

Honolulu – San Jose CA

Honolulu – Seattle

Kahului – Las Vegas

Kahului – Long Beach

Kahului – Los Angeles

Kahului – Oakland

Kahului – Portland OR

Kahului – Sacramento

Kahului – San Diego

Kahului – San Francisco

Kahului – San Jose CA

Kahului – Seattle

Kona – Los Angeles

Kona – Sacramento

Lihue – Los Angeles

Lihue – Oakland

Lihue – Sacramento

Hawaiian Airlines operated by Alaska Airlines

Honolulu – Anchorage

Honolulu – Everett

Honolulu – Los Angeles

Honolulu – Portland OR

Honolulu – San Diego

Honolulu – San Francisco

Honolulu – San Jose CA

Honolulu – Seattle

Kahului – Anchorage

Kahului – Los Angeles

Kahului – Portland OR

Kahului – San Diego

Kahului – San Francisco

Kahului – San Jose CA

Kahului – Seattle

Kona – Anchorage

Kona – Portland OR

Kona – San Diego

Kona – San Jose CA

Kona – Seattle

Lihue – Portland OR

Lihue – San Diego

Lihue – San Jose CA

Lihue – Seattle
Photos: Duncan Stewart

Hawaiian to join Oneworld after merger with Alaska - CEO

Hawaiian Airlines (HA, Honolulu) plans to join Oneworld in time, pending United States Department of Justice approval of its USD1.9 billion merger with Alaska Airlines (AS, Seattle Tacoma International), a member of that alliance, said CEO Peter Ingram.

Hawaiian does not belong to any major airline alliance but has individual commercial partnership agreements with several airlines. At Oneworld, it would join the ranks of American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Finnair, Iberia, and JAL - Japan Airlines.

In an interview with Forbes, Ingram expressed confidence that the merger will get regulatory approval. The DOJ has until August 5 to make a decision. He confirmed the merged company would continue to operate both airlines under their own brands while combining their operating platforms.

"We feel very good about the combination because it is pro-consumer and pro-competition. There are not a lot of overlapping routes between Alaska and Hawaiian, but where there are, there are other carriers also flying the same city pairs," he said.

"Both Alaska and Hawaiian have fiercely loyal followings in their home markets. This was evident in Hawaii when the merger was announced, with many locals worried about their home-grown airline losing its uniquely Hawaiian touch. While the airline won't be locally owned anymore, both brands will operate separately, meaning the Hawaiian touches will stay the same. Both Hawaiian and Alaska are almost a century old, and each brand is very important to the community in its home markets."

The planned merger could eventually see the B737 MAX replace Hawaiian's B717-200 fleet on inter-island routes. The airline has nineteen B717s, on average aged 22.3 years, ch-aviation fleets data reveals. The rest of the fleet comprises two B787-9s with ten more due for delivery, eighteen A321-200Ns, twenty-four A330-200s, and three A330-300(P2F)s, plus seven A330-300s to be delivered post P2F conversion.
According to Ingram, a third B787-9 is scheduled to join the fleet by the end of the year. "The Dreamliner will serve as a combination of fleet replacement for some of the A330s as well as potential growth for new routes or to add capacity on existing ones," he explained.
"Since it is a premium-heavy aircraft, it fits perfectly in markets like Honolulu to New York JFK, Tokyo Narita, and Sydney Kingsford Smith that combine the demand for a flat-bed product with the longer range for which the aircraft is designed. The 787 has 300 total seats versus 278 on the A330. There are 34 premium seats, which is almost double what is on the Airbus plane. As a newer generation aircraft, it has greater fuel efficiency, too," he opined.
The airline's two B787-9s currently serve the US West Coast, including San Francisco, with Phoenix Sky Harbor and Los Angeles International following this month. "This allows for more flexibility in the schedule so that the aircraft can undergo maintenance in between these shorter flights. It also allows more opportunities for pilots to become certified and get hours operating the aircraft. Both of those functions become more difficult when the planes are flying longer-haul routes with less downtime between sectors," he explained.
Ingram said narrow operating margins were one of the leisure-focused carrier's biggest challenges. "As a smaller airline, we have to be creative and scrappy to stay competitive," he said. "This challenge is what keeps me up at night, but also what gets me up in the morning."

Photos:Duncan Stewart

 

FLEET - Hawaiian Airlines (US) plans extend its A330s well into the next decade, then gradually replace them with B787s.

A third Dreamliner arrives in 2024, with two in 2025, and by 2027, the carrier expects to have the 12 firm aircraft all delivered. The decision on the B717 is paused until the deal with Alaska Airlines (US) is completed. The A220, E2 and midlife A320/A319s are all options.

Photo:Duncan Stewart

Consumers launch lawsuit to block Alaska/Hawaiian merger Support

Eight plaintiffs have filed a lawsuit against Alaska Airlines (AS, Seattle Tacoma International) in a bid to block its planned merger with Hawaiian Airlines (HA, Honolulu). The complaint to prohibit the acquisition, alleging a violation of the United States’ Clayton Antitrust Act, was lodged at the US District Court in Hawaii on April 15.

"Alaska’s proposed acquisition of Hawaiian not only violates federal law because it may 'substantially lessen competition or tend to create a monopoly' in multiple markets in the passenger airlines industry, but it could also threaten Hawaiʻi’s economy and the well-being of Hawaiʻi’s people," a US Department of Transportation (DOT) filing reads, partly quoting Section 7 of the antitrust act.

Alaska Air Group, the parent entity of Alaska Airlines, is also a defendant. In December 2023, it announced it would acquire Hawaiian Airlines from Hawaiian Holdings in a USD1.9 billion takeover deal. Aside from legal challenges, the transaction remains subject to approval from the US authorities.

The plaintiffs in the matter include Warran Yoshimoto (Honolulu, HI), Kristin Barroga (Honolulu, HI), Sean Kettley (Kailua, HI), Carolyn Fjord (Winters, CA), Don Freeland (Thousand Palms, CA), Don Fry (Colorado Springs, CO), Bill Rubinsohn (Jenkintown, PA), and Clyde S Stensrud (Kirkland, WA). The filing describes each as an airline passenger and says some are former travel agents.

Alleging a breach of the Clayton Antitrust Act, the filing declares that the "plaintiffs bring this action for both preliminary and permanent injunctive relief against [the] defendants' proposed acquisition of Hawaiian and seek an order prohibiting Alaska from acquiring Hawaiian."

Specifically, it alleges the merger may (i) eliminate actual and potential competition between Alaska and Hawaiian; (ii) substantially lessen competition in general among other airlines; (iii) cause ticket fares and ancillary fares to be higher than they otherwise could be; (iv) lower cause lower industry capacity; (v) lessen consumer choice; (vi) lessen service; (vii) increase coordination among Alaska Airlines and its remaining competitors; and (viii) prompt job layoffs, significant economic impacts on the State of Hawaii, and fewer frequencies inter-island, from Hawaii to the mainland, and from Hawaii to Asia and the Pacific.

The plaintiffs asked the court to find that the proposed merger breaches Section 7 of the Clayton Antitrust Act, issue a finding that it breaches US public policy, and issue a permanent injunction blocking the merger. They are also seeking an award of costs.

An Alaska Airlines spokesperson told ch-aviation that such lawsuits are normal in public company mergers and declined to provide any further comment.

CH Aviation

Photos: Duncan Stewart - LAX

 

FLEET - Hawaiian Airlines' New Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner Welcomes First Guests

HONOLULU – Hawaiian Airlines marked a milestone in its 94-year history: seeing off the inaugural flight of its new flagship aircraft, the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. Aircraft N781NA, named Kapuahi (a star known as Aldebaran in Western astronomy), departed Honoluluʻs Daniel K. Inouye International Airport this afternoon for San Francisco. The carrier’s first 787-9 guests were welcomed with fresh lei and treated to live music and hula by the Hawaiian Airlines Serenaders.

The blessing for the 787 inaugural flight in Honolulu
Kapuahi, which was revealed in February during a formal blessing ceremony in Honolulu, will operate the carrier's nonstop, daily Honolulu-San Francisco flights until May 14, when it will join Hawaiian’s second 787-9, N780NA, to begin dedicated service between Honolulu-Los Angeles (HA2/3) starting May 14, and Honolulu-Phoenix on May 15.

Kapuahi (HA12) taking off from the runway at HNL
“Today marks an incredible achievement for all of us at Hawaiian Airlines and I’d like to thank all of our teammates, Boeing and our many partners for helping us make this moment possible,” said Peter Ingram, president and CEO of Hawaiian Airlines. “Our 787-9 is a true flagship product that, when paired with the award-winning hospitality of our crew, will provide guests with an unforgettable Hawaiʻi travel experience.”

The flight crew for HA12
Guests on today’s HA12 were also among the first to watch the carrierʻs new in-flight safety video, in which 57 cast members, all Hawaiian Airlines employees and family members, share important safety information from breathtaking locations throughout the Hawaiian Islands. The video, which is rolling out across Hawaiian’s Airbus A330 fleet soon, can also be viewed here.

The moment they step onboard Hawaiian’s 787-9, guests are immersed in an island-inspired design in a cabin that evokes Hawaiʻi's beauty through form, texture, and soothing sunrise and sunset lighting. The 34 Leihōkū (garland of stars) Suites feature lie-flat seating, an 18-inch in-flight entertainment screen, personal power outlets, wireless cell phone charging and direct aisle access. Set in a 1-2-1 configuration with doors, the suites offer privacy or a shared experience with combinable double suites allowing couples to fall asleep while gazing at a starlit ceiling inspired by the constellations that guided early Polynesian voyagers.

Hawaiian's 787-9 Main Cabin consists of 266 Collins Aerospace Aspire seats with ergonomically contoured back and armrests that maximize living space, offer more shoulder and hip room and feature a 12-inch seatback monitor with USB-A and USB-C charging ports. Main Cabin guests can also select from 79 Extra Comfort seats to enjoy more legroom and access to AC power outlets.

Hawaiian's 787-9 Main Cabin consists of 266 Collins Aerospace Aspire seats with ergonomically contoured back and armrests that maximize living space, offer more shoulder and hip room and feature a 12-inch seatback monitor with USB-A and USB-C charging ports. Main Cabin guests can also select from 79 Extra Comfort seats to enjoy more legroom and access to AC power outlets.


The carrier has 12 787-9s on order and last week took delivery of its second aircraft, N780NA. Hawaiian is scheduled to have three 787-9s by the end of the year, with the remaining deliveries occurring through 2027.

 

FLEET - Hawaiian Airlines B787-9 Dreamliner "Kapuahi" (N781HA) at LAX Imperial Terminal for LAX media / employee introduction event for Hawaiian Airlines first 787. (03/09/24)

K.C.Wong