Hawaiian Airlines announced a $600 million, five-year investment to upgrade airport passenger areas across Hawaii and renovate its wide-body aircraft, the company said Thursday at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu.
The upgrades include improved lobbies and gates at airports on all islands, designed to offer more seating, better amenities, and enhanced power charging access. A new 10,600-square-foot lounge will be built at the Mauka Concourse in Terminal 1 of Daniel K. Inouye International.
The airline also plans to retrofit its Airbus A330 aircraft beginning in 2028, with upgrades including updated seats, carpeting, lighting, business class suites, Bluetooth-enabled in-flight entertainment with high-definition screens, and complimentary Starlink Wi-Fi.
CEO Diana Birkett Rakow said the airline is working to streamline operations following its 2024 acquisition by Alaska Airlines, which made Hawaiian a subsidiary of Alaska Air Group. The two airlines currently operate on different ticketing systems.
“We have pushed a lot of change through the system for the last couple of months,” Rakow said. “We’re working on integrating our ticketing systems because right now we’re on two separate ticketing systems that don’t talk to each other.”
She said the system integration is expected to improve by late April, allowing for more seamless bookings.
Hawaiian also plans to join the oneworld alliance and move to a shared passenger service system with Alaska Airlines in late April. Until then, Rakow acknowledged ongoing service disruptions.
“There’s been so many changes and all of that friction is really painful,” she said. “We are committed to making sure we are addressing the issues. … Really, after April, it is going to improve significantly.”
Gov. Josh Green said in a statement that the airline’s investment reflects a long-term commitment to the state. “Modern, welcoming airports improve the experience for residents and visitors alike, strengthen our economy and keep Hawaiʻi competitive as a global destination,” Green said.
The company also announced initiatives to educate passengers about local culture and environmental stewardship. Hawaiian said it would continue funding programs supporting regenerative tourism, conservation, and cultural preservation.
The Alaska Airlines | Hawaiian Airlines Foundation will fund grants to nonprofit organizations promoting native Hawaiian language, art, and environmental preservation.
The announcement follows a 0.75% increase in Hawaii’s Transient Accommodations Tax, which supports climate change initiatives.
