Hawaiian Airways must be a member of the Oneworld alliance by late April, the provider introduced Monday.
It’s a step that’s been within the works ever since Alaska Airways’ father or mother firm acquired the Honolulu-based carrier in 2024.
The transfer would make Hawaiian, like Alaska, a full-fledged alliance companion of American Airways and a dozen-plus different international carriers — from British Airways to Hong Kong’s Cathay Pacific, Australia’s Qantas and Japan Airways.
That wasn’t the one information Hawaiian introduced Monday.
The provider additionally unveiled a five-year, $600 million spending spree that features renovations to 5 Hawaii airports and much-needed cabin upgrades for its long-haul planes. It additionally unveiled some new Atmos Rewards perks for vacationers who reside within the state of Hawaii.
All instructed, it is maybe the largest set of initiatives Alaska Air Group has introduced particularly for the Hawaiian Airways model since buying the provider near a 12 months and a half in the past — and one that can probably show welcome information for loyal Hawaiian flyers after a interval of main upheaval.
Right here’s a rundown of what to know.
Full pace forward for a premium Honolulu lounge
Final 12 months, TPG reported on Alaska and Hawaiian’s plan to open a brand-new premium airport lounge at Honolulu’s Daniel Ok. Inouye Worldwide Airport (HNL).
Hawaiian on Monday revealed that the outpost is ready to span round 10,600 sq. toes inside HNL’s Terminal 1 Mauka Concourse.
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As some extent of comparability, that’s roughly the dimensions of Delta Air Traces’ Delta One Lounge at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).
Alaska and Hawaiian haven’t laid out entry guidelines for this new facility, however I’d anticipate the entry necessities to be much less like your customary membership membership and extra tailor-made to business-class flyers and people with elite standing.
That’s notable as Alaska Air Group more and more sees Honolulu not simply as a vacation spot for vacationers, however as a connecting hub for travelers flying to locations in Asia, Australia and the South Pacific.
Alaska Air Group’s lounge chief final summer time instructed me that the corporate expects to lean on regionally sourced distributors and facilities — and design components — on this facility.
The lounge is on monitor to open by the tip of 2027, Hawaiian instructed TPG.
We should always observe, Alaska Air Group is planning a second premium outpost for its Seattle-Tacoma Worldwide Airport (SEA) residence base.
Plane upgrades to begin in 2028
Hawaiian on Monday additionally shared a timeline for much-needed upgrades to its Airbus A330s — the workhorse long-haul planes you’re prone to end up on should you fly with the provider to Hawaii.
A330 retrofits will start in 2028, Hawaiian stated. As TPG reported last year, these cabin revamps will embody brand-new lie-flat suites harking back to the spiffy product discovered on its Boeing 787 Dreamliners (which can quickly grow to be Alaska Airways-branded 787s).
That’ll be a welcome step up from the older business-class product Hawaiian at the moment gives on its A330s, which is organized in a 2-2-2 configuration and doesn’t sport common direct aisle entry, now the trade customary.
The A330s will even get a premium financial system cabin and seatback screens with Bluetooth headphone connectivity.
That’s on prime of a number of beauty upgrades to the interiors.
Renovations coming to five Hawaii airports
It’s not simply the planes which might be due for an improve.
On Monday, Hawaiian introduced tens of millions of {dollars} in enhancements for 5 Aloha State airports:
- HNL on Oahu
- Lihue Airport (LIH) on Kauai
- Kahului Airport (OGG) on Maui
- Hilo Worldwide Airport (ITO) on the Huge Island
- Ellison Onizuka Kona Worldwide Airport at Keahole (KOA) on the Huge Island
Renovations at these Hawaii airports will start this 12 months and proceed by way of 2029, encompassing each the foyer entrances and the gates. Hawaiian promised “open areas, higher seating” and improved facilities, together with extra charging ports.
Loyalty increase for neighbor island flying
Hawaiian additionally introduced a deal-sweetener for flyers who steadily journey between the state’s islands.
Final 12 months, Hawaiian officially sunset its legacy HawaiianMiles loyalty program in favor of the brand new Atmos Rewards program it now shares with Alaska Airlines.
As a subset of Atmos Rewards, Hawaii clients can nonetheless be part of the long-standing Huakai by Hawaiian program, which features a few added perks for patrons who steadily take neighbor island flights (like free checked luggage and quarterly reductions).
New in 2026: Huakai by Hawaiian members will probably be eligible for a 50% bonus on Atmos Rewards earnings when touring aboard neighbor island flights — each for factors and standing factors.
That bonus will apply no matter how members choose to earn their points and status points. (Later in 2026, Atmos Rewards will permit members to earn primarily based on the gap of their flight, the quantity they paid or a flat fee of 500 factors per section.)
Different modifications at Hawaiian Airways
As a part of the slew of bulletins by Hawaiian on Monday, the provider promised upgrades to its web site and cell app, together with higher self-service options for making flight modifications.
The provider additionally stated it’ll make it simpler for Atmos Rewards members to guide companion awards.
After all, Hawaiian’s arrival within the Oneworld alliance — once more, deliberate for late April — also needs to enhance the companion expertise for Hawaiian flyers and Oneworld members.
That shift ought to broaden Oneworld standing advantages and open up new redemption alternatives for flyers who’ve rewards with different alliance carriers, reminiscent of British Airways and Cathay Pacific — each of which have partnerships with main bank card rewards packages.
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