Alaska Air Group advances premium lounge developments

Alaska Air Group is investing in the future of premium air travel, with major new lounge developments underway in Honolulu and Seattle set to elevate passenger experience and strengthen its airport offering.

Summary:

Hawaiian Airlines has broken ground on a nearly 13,000-square-foot premium lounge at Honolulu’s Daniel K. Inouye International Airport, with an opening planned for the first half of 2028.
Alaska Airlines is developing a 41,000-square-foot lounge complex at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, featuring a 500-seat Alaska Lounge and a 200-seat Aurora Lounge.
The new lounges form part of Alaska Air Group’s wider investment in premium passenger experiences, airport modernisation and enhanced facilities across its network.

Hawaiian Airlines has started construction of its new premium lounge in Honolulu, marking the milestone with a traditional Hawaiian blessing for the future, nearly 13,000-square-foot space conveniently located at the entrance of the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport’s (HNL) Mauka Concourse.

The Hawaiian Airlines Lounge is a key investment under Alaska Air Group’s Alaska Accelerate strategy to build a more global, premium and diversified company. Through its Kahuʻewai Hawaiʻi Investment Plan, the company is committing more than $600 million to improve travel to, from and within the islands by modernising airport spaces, upgrading technology and retrofitting Hawaiian Airlines aircraft interiors.

“Inside our new Hawaiian Airlines Lounge in Honolulu, guests will experience our warm ho‘okipa in an elegant, relaxing space that celebrates Hawaiʻi’s culture and natural beauty,” said Alisa Onishi, Managing Director, Hawai’i Marketing, Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines. “From the design and artwork to the food, amenities and service, every detail will evoke the islands and create a memorable start to the journey.”

Set to open in the first half of 2028, the Hawaiian Airlines Lounge will welcome approximately 200 guests and offer an elevated standard of pre-flight comfort. It will expand the company’s existing HNL portfolio, which currently includes the Plumeria Lounge and six Premier Clubs across the islands. The new lounge also complements Hawaiian’s recently unveiled premium Leihōkū experience.

The new lounge is a key part of the company’s broader Kahu‘ewai Hawai’i Investment Plan that includes comprehensive upgrades to Hawaiian’s airport lobbies and gates across the islands, a premium interior retrofit of the Airbus A330 fleet, more modern web, app and airport technology for travellers, and exclusive deals for residents enrolled in Huaka‘i by Hawaiian within Atmos Rewards, in addition to sustainability and community investments. The plan is strengthening the Hawaiian Airlines brand and delivering greater value for guests, employees and the communities the combined company serves throughout Hawaiʻi.

Meanwhile, at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, construction is underway on Alaska Airlines’ (a Corporate Partner of the FTE Digital, Innovation & Startup Hub) nearly 41,000-square-foot lounge complex located in the newly expanded C Concourse. The space will bring two distinct experiences under one roof: a 500-seat Alaska Lounge and a 200-seat Aurora Lounge for Aurora Suites guests and eligible long-haul international travellers. The Aurora Lounge will be a key part of Alaska’s newly designed end-to-end guest experience unveiled last month to bring premium touches to every stage of the journey.

Scheduled to open in late 2027, the expansive lounge complex will be the largest lounge at SEA, among the biggest in the United States and will further strengthen Seattle’s role as Alaska Air Group’s global gateway. Designed to reflect the spirit of the Pacific Northwest, it will offer guests a variety of ways to relax, work and dine before their journey.

“Our new lounges in Seattle and Honolulu reflect the vision of talented architects, designers, builders and airline teams working together to create spaces that are unmistakably Alaska and unmistakably Hawaiian,” said Shane Jones, Senior Vice President of Fleet, Products and Guest Experience, Alaska Airlines. “We’re grateful to partner with organisations that share our commitment to delivering exceptional guest experiences while honouring the unique character of Seattle and Hawaiʻi.”

The new Seattle lounge destination will be the largest in Alaska Airlines’ lounge network and will complement the airline’s three existing lounges in Seattle. It joins Alaska’s growing portfolio of premium spaces, including the newly opened 14,000-square-foot lounge in Portland and a new lounge planned for San Diego in 2028.