Summary:
- Hawaiian Airlines announces a $600m, five-year Kahu’ewai Hawai’i Investment Plan to modernise airport spaces, upgrade technology, and enhance inflight experiences across its fleet.
- The plan includes new lounges, refreshed terminals, upgraded Airbus A330 interiors with premium cabins, Bluetooth-enabled entertainment, and Starlink WiFi, improving comfort and connectivity for travellers.
- Investments also focus on sustainability, regenerative tourism, and community initiatives, reinforcing Hawaiian Airlines’ commitment to environmental stewardship and local engagement.
Hawaiian Airlines, part of Alaska Airlines (a Corporate Partner of the FTE Digital, Innovation & Startup Hub), has unveiled an investment plan of more than $600 million over five years to comprehensively enhance the customer experience. This includes modernising airport spaces, upgrading technology and retrofitting aircraft interiors, while expanding community and sustainability work across Hawai’i.
Hawaiian Airlines’ Kahu’ewai Hawai’i Investment Plan is designed to improve the guest experience from booking to the day of travel and provide airport and inflight teams with modern tools and spaces to welcome travellers. Investments will also help Hawaiian Airlines advance lower emission technologies and programs promoting regenerative tourism, culture and conservation.
“Hawaiian Airlines is proud to call Hawai’i home, to reflect the spirit of the islands, to take care of our local guests and welcome visitors, and support our communities,” said Hawaiian Airlines Chief Executive Officer Diana Birkett Rakow. “Our Kahu’ewai Hawai’i Investment Plan represents one of Hawaiian Airlines’ largest single investments in our infrastructure, products and services in Hawai’i. It reflects our kuleana to our people and guests in the islands and reinforces our commitment to deliver safe and remarkable service that enables Hawai’i and Hawaiian Airlines to thrive.”
Starting this year through 2029, Hawaiian Airlines will renovate lobbies and gates in Honolulu, Līhu’e, Kahului, Kona and Hilo to improve passenger flow and comfort, with bright, elegant open spaces and better seating and amenities like increased power charging. In Honolulu, Hawaiian’s busiest hub, the airline will build a spacious 10,600-square-foot premium lounge at the entrance of the Mauka Concourse in Terminal 1, setting a new standard of pre-flight comfort.
This spring, Hawaiian Airlines will launch an updated, modern app and website with improved functionality to simplify travel planning, booking and trip management with self-service features like changing flights and redeeming award travel on global partners. The airline is also investing in new technology to support employees in their critical roles across the operation. Full functionality of these tools – and a significantly smoother guest experience – will be possible once Hawaiian Airlines and Alaska Airlines share the same passenger service system and Hawaiian Airlines joins the oneworld alliance, both scheduled for late April.
Hawaiian Airlines’ fleet of widebody Airbus A330s, based in Honolulu, will undergo a full interior upgrade, starting in 2028, with new seats, carpets, lighting, First Class suites, and a premium economy cabin. Guests will also enjoy a Bluetooth-enabled inflight entertainment system with high-definition seatback screens and an extensive movie and music library, along with fast and free Starlink WiFi. The airline is also acquiring three of its A330 aircraft off lease to support the future of this fleet in its service across the Pacific.
Hawaiian Airlines remains deeply engaged in the community, with expanded partnerships in education and workforce development initiatives, new grant-making opportunities, promoting regenerative tourism efforts through its Travel Pono program and new investments to preserve Hawai’i’s natural resources and to advance new technologies for a more sustainable future.
You may also be interested in
12 technology and CX trends that can enhance airline and airport operations in 2026
