October 29, 2026 — Days after Alaska Air Group named Hawaii as one of its weakest markets this year, executives told about 240 community stakeholders in Honolulu that Hawaiian Airlines (HA) and its Honolulu hub are staying central to the combined airline’s plans.
What happened
On its third-quarter earnings call, Alaska Air Group said Hawaii was among the poorest-performing parts of its network this year. It blamed weather disruptions, too much industry capacity, and the work of merging Alaska and Hawaiian. The company then held an open house, “Alaska Accelerate 2026: The Hawaii Experience,” at Hawaiian’s Honolulu headquarters, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported on October 28.
Alaska Airlines president and CFO Shane Tackett said the company was not pulling focus from Hawaii. Of the islands, he said: “It’s going to be one of the most important parts of our network.”
What the airline laid out
| Item | Detail | Timing |
|---|---|---|
| Kahu’ewai Hawai’i Investment Plan | More than $600 million for aircraft upgrades, airports, technology and community and workforce programs | TBA |
| New Hawaiian Airlines Lounge, Honolulu (HNL) | Nearly 13,000 sq ft, about 200 guests; under construction | 2028 |
| Premium security bypass at HNL | Dedicated check-in area and expedited TSA screening | 2027 |
| A330 refurbishment | Hawaiian’s Airbus A330 fleet, plus updated lobbies, gates and employee facilities across Hawaii | TBA |
| Onboard | Meals developed with Hawaii chef Sheldon Simeon; Starlink internet | Ongoing |
| Loyalty | Huaka’i by Hawaiian benefits, added baggage benefits, and a coming debit card that earns travel rewards | Debit card: TBA |
Jobs and labor
- No flight cuts, route changes or layoffs were reported.
- Executives said the combined company is still a net job creator but will keep reviewing staffing levels as integration goes on.
- Bringing the two airlines’ work groups together remains a major merger milestone. Executives called contract talks productive and said some employee groups could reach joint agreements over the next several quarters.
- Executives expect Hawaii results to improve next year as integration winds down, industry capacity moderates and weather disruptions ease.
What it means for non-revs
- Hawaii has had extra seats. The airline itself cited excess industry capacity to and within Hawaii this year, which is usually good news for open seats on Hawaii flights.
- That may tighten. Executives expect capacity across the industry to moderate next year. If that happens, Hawaii loads could firm up, so don’t count on this year’s open flights lasting.
- No network cuts announced. Nothing in the report points to fewer Honolulu flights, so Honolulu remains a hub you can plan around.
- Employees of Alaska and Hawaiian: watch the joint contracts. Joint agreements for some work groups could arrive over the next several quarters. The report does not say what they will include.
Sources
- Honolulu Star-Advertiser — Alaska Air says it’s committed to Honolulu as successful hub
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