Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines shift widebody focus from Hawaii to Seattle for expanded global and domestic routes

Alaska Air Group is out with a press release touting the transformation of Seattle into a global gateway by deploying Hawaiian Airlines’ widebody aircraft for new international and domestic routes. Starting May 2025, daily nonstop flights will connect Seattle with Tokyo Narita, Japan, using Hawaiian’s Airbus A330-200s, followed by service to Seoul Incheon, South Korea, launching in October 2025. These flights support Alaska's strategy to expand global connectivity from Seattle, with 12 international destinations planned by 2030.

This shift repositions Hawaiian's widebody fleet from the Honolulu-Tokyo Narita route to Seattle. In Hawaii, service between Honolulu and Tokyo Haneda will increase to 14 weekly flights, with nonstop options to Osaka and Fukuoka continuing. Domestically, HNL to Sacramento will lose widebody service.

The carriers hope to mitigate delays in Boeing 737 deliveries and expand service options while retaining both airline brands until a single FAA operating certificate is achieved in 2025.