Hawaiian Airlines is increasing capacity on inter-island flights
ALK•Alaska Airlines also expands freighter capacity
Alaska Airlines, which owns Hawaiian Airlines, also announced that it is nearly doubling its freighter capacity with leases for four 737 freighters. The jets are slated to enter service with Alaska in 2028 and will increase Alaska's freighter fleet from five to nine aircraft.
Hawaiian to retire 717s and add larger 737 NG jets
Hawaiian Airlines announced Tuesday that it is retiring its 19 Boeing 717s, which are all more than 20 years old, and replacing them with larger 737 Next Generation (NG) jets to keep up with growing demand for short inter-island flights beginning in 2028.
The 737 NGs have around 160 seats, compared with the 128 seats on the 717s. The airline needs the extra capacity during the middle of the day, Hawaiian CEO Diana Birkett Rakow told Reuters in an interview.
