Hawaiian Airlines to Swap 717s for 737s on Island Hops

Hawaiian Airlines is preparing a major upgrade of its Hawaii interisland fleet, with plans to retire its aging Boeing 717 jets and introduce larger Boeing 737-800 aircraft beginning in 2028, according to recent company statements and media reports.

A New Chapter for Neighbor Island Flights

Publicly available information shows that Hawaiian Airlines, now part of the Alaska Airlines group, has settled on the Boeing 737-800 as the aircraft that will eventually take over its high-frequency neighbor island routes. The move will bring an end to the airline’s reliance on the Boeing 717, a short-haul workhorse that has served Hawaii’s skies for more than two decades.

Reports indicate that the transition will begin in 2028, giving the carrier time to manage both operational and staffing changes as it shifts from a smaller, single-aisle jet to a larger narrowbody type. The decision follows months of speculation over whether Hawaiian would opt for a new-build fleet from manufacturers such as Airbus or Embraer, or leverage aircraft already in service with Alaska Airlines.

According to published coverage, the selected 737-800s will fly in Hawaiian Airlines colors and be configured for short, high-cycle segments between Oahu, Maui, Kauai and Hawaii Island. The jets are expected to be based in Honolulu and integrated into the combined group’s broader network strategy, which increasingly links interisland flying with mainland and international services.

The shift marks one of the most significant changes to Hawaii’s interisland aviation landscape since the 717s entered service around the turn of the century, reshaping both seat supply and the onboard product available to residents and visitors.

From Boeing 717 Workhorse to Higher-Capacity 737-800

Hawaiian currently operates 19 Boeing 717-200 aircraft on its interisland routes, many of which are more than 20 years old. Public filings and government documents have noted the fleet’s age and intensive utilization, reflecting the demanding nature of short, multiple daily hops between islands.

The Boeing 737-800, part of Boeing’s Next Generation family, offers a step up in capacity and range compared with the 717. Aviation industry analyses suggest that the 737-800 can accommodate significantly more passengers, including more premium and extra-legroom seating, which could help Hawaiian tap into strong demand on peak daytime flights.

While the 717 has long been praised for its quick turn times, two-by-three seating layout and suitability for short sectors, the aircraft type is no longer in production, limiting long-term fleet planning options. By contrast, the 737-800 is widely operated globally, with a deeper pool of spare parts, maintenance expertise and cockpit commonality with other Boeing models.

Analysts note that moving to a larger, more standardized narrowbody could bring cost efficiencies over time, even as it requires adjustments to scheduling, airport operations and maintenance routines within the islands.

What Travelers Can Expect Onboard

According to airline statements and industry reports, the Hawaiian-branded 737-800s are expected to feature an updated cabin with a more modern feel compared with the 717s they replace. Travelers can anticipate a configuration that includes a dedicated premium cabin, additional extra-legroom seating and more overall seats per flight.

The larger cabin footprint is likely to change the experience on some of Hawaii’s busiest routes, where flights between Honolulu, Kahului and Lihue can already feel full at peak times. With extra capacity per departure, the airline may be able to better absorb seasonal demand surges tied to holidays, school breaks and major events.

Observers point out that the 737-800’s typical three-by-three seating arrangement will introduce more middle seats on routes long accustomed to the 717’s smaller cabin. However, the aircraft’s more advanced systems and updated interior options could translate into quieter rides, more reliable air conditioning, improved lighting and potentially enhanced in-flight amenities.

Exact seat maps and final cabin details have not yet been fully disclosed in public materials, but the combination of higher capacity and an updated product signals a noticeable shift for frequent island flyers.

Operational and Labor Implications in Hawaii

Information shared by labor groups and company communications indicates that the 737-800s intended for interisland operations will be flown by crews based in Honolulu. This structure aims to maintain a locally rooted workforce while aligning training and operating procedures with those already in place at Alaska Airlines for the same aircraft type.

The changeover from 717s to 737-800s brings a complex set of labor and scheduling questions. Flight attendants and pilots trained on the 717 will need transition pathways as the type is phased out, while crews with existing 737 qualifications may be integrated into the new operation. Union communications have highlighted both opportunities and concerns as details of the fleet plan emerge.

On the ground, airports across the state will continue to handle narrowbody jets, but ramp operations, gate assignments and turn-time expectations may be adjusted to reflect the 737-800’s larger size and higher passenger counts. Industry observers note that interisland flying is particularly hard on aircraft, with frequent cycles and short flight times that demand careful maintenance and engine management.

For the State of Hawaii, which tracks airline activity and fleet composition in public bond documents, the announced changes provide a clearer picture of how the dominant interisland carrier intends to sustain capacity and reliability in the coming decade.

Impacts on Fares, Capacity and Competition

With more seats per flight, Hawaiian Airlines’ move to the 737-800 is expected by aviation analysts to increase overall capacity on key interisland routes once the transition is fully underway. Depending on how schedules are adjusted, this could influence fare dynamics, especially during off-peak periods.

Some industry commentary suggests that the additional capacity may give Hawaiian more flexibility to fine-tune departure times, align interisland connections with transpacific arrivals and departures, and offer more consistent schedules for residents who depend on air travel for work, education and medical needs.

The decision also arrives as rival carriers continue to evaluate their own Hawaii strategies. Low-cost competition and shifting visitor patterns have already reshaped parts of the market over the past decade, and the arrival of larger Hawaiian-branded jets on short hops could prompt further schedule and pricing responses.

For travelers planning trips in the late 2020s and beyond, the message from recent announcements and coverage is that island-to-island flying will increasingly be operated by larger, more modern jets. While the familiar 717 era is drawing to a close, the new fleet plan suggests Hawaiian Airlines is positioning its interisland network for sustained growth and integration within a broader Pacific route structure.