The merger between Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines continues to reshape both of these operators. One of the major changes coming to the Alaska side of the new partnership is the integration of Airbus aircraft.

Since the Alaska fleet will no longer be exclusively Boeing-made airliners, the historic slogan “Proudly All Boeing” is being retired, as reported by Zach Griff on X. The Boeing 737 family continues to be the dominant airframe of its flight line, but the iconic American brand is no longer the only one in the hangar.

One Fleet Under Two Liveries

The Airbus A321 narrowbody and Airbus A330 widebody aircraft that are being inherited through the merger with Hawaiian Airlines are not expected to be retired, sold off, or otherwise liquidated for many years. The jets will continue to primarily serve traffic to and from Hawaii as well as bear the familiar Hawaiian Airlines livery, according to From the Tray Table. According to Planespotters.net, the Hawaiian Airlines fleet includes 18 Airbus A321neo single aisle stretched jetliners.

The widebodies that are from Airbus include 22 examples of the A330-200 and 10 units of the longer A330-300. Meanwhile, data for Alaska Airlines shows that the bulk of the 248-strong 737 fleet is composed of 737-900ER and 737 MAX 9 jets. Alaska Airlines is also expanding its widebody fleet with new Boeing 787 Dreamliner jets. These will be the first long-haul twin-aisle airliners acquired by the airline directly.

The 787 is the first clean sheet design that Boeing has produced in many years, with composite construction that includes roughly 80% of the airframe by volume. The two airlines recently received their joint operating certificate under the Federal Aviation Administration to become essentially one fleet, about which President and CEO of Alaska Air Group Ben Minicucci gave this statement:

“This was a year-long, multi-phase effort involving multiple departments and thousands of hours of work. (…) This is an important step in our journey as a combined organization, and I’m excited about our future together.”

Global Reach For International Aspirations

The Airbus A330 fleet is essential to Alaska Airlines’ transformation into a global carrier, as these aircraft can fly significantly further than its standard 737 fleet. The new 787 Dreamliners will also be seen increasingly on the flight line over the next few years as the air carriers’ international reach is just beginning to develop.

Most of the Airbus jets will remain under the Hawaiian banner and continue to provide dedicated service to international long-haul routes and flights between the continental United States and Hawaii. As a part of the newly expanded network, some of the long-haul A330 jets will serve flights from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) to Tokyo Narita (NRT) as well as Seoul Incheon (ICN).

Until the 787 cadre grows in significant numbers, some A330 jets will also be used to fly Alaska’s first-ever routes to Europe, including destinations like London, Reykjavik, and Rome. Under the Kahuʻewai Hawaiʻi Investment Plan, the A330s will undergo a full interior retrofit starting in 2028, featuring new lie-flat suites, premium economy cabins, and high-definition seatback entertainment.

Airbus Joins The Fleet

The A321neo serves a unique niche within the new and more diverse Alaska Airlines fleet. It offers superior range and fuel efficiency for long overwater routes between Hawaiʻi and the US West Coast, meaning that it will continue to be an important part of the Hawaiian fleet.

It’s expected to see some of these aircraft flying new international routes from Seattle alongside larger Airbus A330s. Many will retain the ‘Pualani’ logo on their tails, but it is likely that some will be seen with the new ‘Global Livery’ inspired by the Aurora Borealis, as Alaska begins to refresh its fleet in reflection of the new global network and vision that it has grown to have.

The airline is expected to keep these jets for the foreseeable future thanks to their very low airframe age as well as numerous upgrades that were received prior to the merger, including high-speed Starlink Wi-Fi. The existing infrastructure provided by the Honolulu International Airport (HNL) facilities also makes it a painless decision to retain the European narrowbodies.