Hawaiian Airlines cuts 3 routes, including the longest domestic flight in the United States
Hawaiian Airlines is withdrawing flights to Asia and cutting its longest domestic route. Instead, the airline will fly to Australia, with Tahiti more frequently, most importantly between Honolulu and the West Coast of the United States.
The Hawaiian announced a network reshuffle Tuesday night, revealing plans to suspend its uninterrupted service, the Daniel Enoye International Airport (HNL) in Honolulu and the uninterrupted service between three destinations:
- Boston Logan International Airport (BOS), effective November 19
- Incheon International Airport (ICN) in Seoul, South Korea takes effect on November 21
- FUK Airport (FUK) in FUK, Japan, effective November 19
Instead, Hawaiians will increase the number of weekly flights they operate on a handful of domestic and international routes within a few months of peak Hawaii travel.
Why cut flights in Hawaii?
The Hawaiians said Tuesday’s route cuts were just economics: the three flights were underperforming, and the airline explained in a statement announcing the news that it was behind in travel demand from Asia to Hawaii since the joint 19th pandemic.
Visitors from Aloha State, Japan, fell 54% in 2024 to 2019, partly due to weakness in the yen, according to the Hawaii Tourism Bureau.
South Korean tourists in Hawaii fell by nearly a third compared to 2019.
“It’s always a tough decision to suspend a route, especially in cities like Seoul,” Hawaii CEO Joe Sprague said on Tuesday.
Hawaiians still fly to Tokyo from their HNL hub through Haneda Airport (HND) and Osaka’s Kansai International Airport (KIX).
Reward your inbox with TPG Daily Newsletter
Join over 700,000 readers for breaking news, in-depth guides and exclusive deals from TPG experts
As for Boston, the Hawaiians are competing fiercely, with competition on the longest U.S. route from HNL to BOS.
More flights to the South Pacific and the West Coast of the United States
While Hawaiians may be narrowing the road map, airlines are adding additional flights to a few cities during Hawaiian travel months.
Between mid-December and end of January, the airline will make its HNL flights to Sydney Airport (SYD). It will also start adding a second weekly FAAA International Airport (PPT) to Papeete, Tahiti in March.
Travelers can also expect to see Hawaiian planes fly more frequently between the HNL and the West Coast of the United States: During the peak holidays, operators will increase daily flights to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). And, it will be stacked on its fourth winter flight from Honolulu to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA), the local base of its new sister airline Alaska Airlines.
Merged reorganization
The additional sea flights and loose flights were part of the larger network reshuffle of the Hawaiians after being acquired by the Alaska Air Group last year – including efforts to connect more Hawaiian flights to Alaska’s West Coast hub.
The overall departure rate of Hawaiians on the HNL-SEA route has risen by about 226% this winter (between October and March), while the figure a year ago has risen by about 226%.
Other changes are in progress.
As TPG reports, Hawaiian’s brand new Boeing 787 Dreamliners will soon be repainted by Alaska Airlines’ uniforms. The aircraft will soon stop traveling to and from Hawaii and will be deployed on new long-distance international flights in Alaska.
Alaska has said the Hawaiian’s older Airbus A330 (which will be its main long-haul aircraft, about to be advanced) will receive a cabin makeover in the coming years, including new commercial-grade and premium economic products.
Related readings:
