Alaska Air Group has selected the B737-800 as a replacement type for the fleet of 19 ex-Hawaiian Airlines' B717-200s operating interisland services in Hawai'i. The transition will begin in 2028 and the airline hopes to "move quickly" with the rollover.

The airline also plans to place B737-800(BCF)s in Hawai'i under the new Hawaiian Air Cargo brand.

"The B737-800 gives us a proven, capable platform for the next chapter of Neighbor Island flying," said Jim Landers, head of Hawai'i operations. "It is well suited to the operational needs of the Islands and gives our teams a clear path to transition from the B717s while continuing to deliver the reliable service our guests expect."

The airline emphasised that the B737 was selected thanks to its "proven airframes and engines that can withstand the high cycles of Neighbor Island operations, while enabling the airline to maintain capacity to meet demand with a full schedule of frequent departures from morning to evening." It will also offer more cargo space, including for surfboards, it added.

The aircraft will operate in Hawaiian Airlines branding, but under Alaska Airlines' certificate following the merger of the two airlines. They will be based out of Honolulu and operated by locally based crews and pilots, "once the integration is complete".

The carrier did not disclose any further details, and did not respond to ch-aviation's request for comment.

Alaska Airlines currently operates fifty-nine B737-800s, but it is unclear if it will transfer any of these to Hawai'i or source new aircraft. The carrier is in the process of rolling over to B737 MAX fleet.

Seating configuration disclosed by Alaska Airlines is consistent with its current fleet. ch-aviation data shows that Hawaiian's B717s can seat up to 128 passengers, including eight in business class, while Alaska Airlines' existing B737-800s are configured for up to 161 passengers, including 16 in business class and 30 in premium economy. The airline confirmed that the B737 in Hawaii will double the business class seating and add 30 premium seats, which do not exist on the B717s.

The airline is one of two remaining B717 operators, alongside Delta Air Lines. The type was well-suited for Hawai'i operations due to its design for high-cycle, short-haul flying, and good performance in the engine-challenging salty environment.

Before the new, Hawaiian-branded B737s are inducted in 2028, Alaska Airlines said it would deploy one B737-800 under the current brand to operate 3x daily between Honolulu and Kahului starting in October 2026.

Concurrently, Alaska Airlines announced plans to lease four incremental B737-800(BCF)s, increasing its cargo fleet from five to nine units. Currently, the airline operates three B737-700(BDSF)s and two B737-800(BCF)s under the Alaska Air Cargo brand. It said that the incremental freighters are scheduled for deliveries in the first half of 2027, and some of them will be placed in Hawai'i under the new Hawaiian Air Cargo brand.

Hawaiian Airlines used to operate interisland cargo service under the 'Ohana brand, which deployed four ATR72-200(F)s operated by Empire Airlines. The service was discontinued in 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, and not revived since. The airline's cargo fleet also comprises ten A330-300(P2F)s which are operated on behalf of Amazon.com, and not included by Alaska Air Group as available cargo capacity.