For decades, Hawaiian Airlines has built its reputation on warm island hospitality with nonstop connectivity between the Hawaiian Islands, the US mainland, and countless international destinations. However, with premium travel expectations rising, Hawaiian has found itself training global competitors when it comes to its onboard premium products.

Beginning in 2028, however, Hawaiian Airlines will introduce a sweeping overhaul of its Airbus A330 fleet, as well as a wide range of investments in the overall passenger experience. These changes are headlined by the airline’s first-ever true premium economy cabin and a fully redesigned first class product onboard its A330s. These long-anticipated upgrades are already generating excitement among frequent flyers and promise to launch Hawaiian into a new era in the second half of the decade.

Brand-New A330 Premium Economy Cabin Coming 2028

Starting in 2028, Hawaiian Airlines’ entire fleet of 24 Airbus A330-200s will undergo a complete head-to-tail refresh. Among the expected updates are a brand-new premium economy cabin, the first ever for Hawaiian. Often called a mix between economy and business class, premium economy has become one of the fastest-growing cabin classes globally. Hawaiian’s new premium economy promises to deliver an enhanced space with greater comfort and improved amenities at a more affordable price than business class.

Historically, Hawaiian has not offered a true Premium economy cabin. Instead, Hawaiian’s A330s are outfitted with 88 ‘economy comfort’ seats, offering passengers 36 inches of pitch and six inches of recline, an improvement over the standard 31-inch pitch in regular economy. Still, a clear economy class experience, the new premium economy cabin will represent a step-up, aligning Hawaiian more closely with international carriers and premium domestic aircraft operated by the likes of Delta and others to the Hawaiian Islands.

While Hawaiian has not released any details on the specific seat or configuration it plans to install on its A330 fleet, most other premium economy cabins are arranged in a 2-3-2 configuration. Additionally, passengers can expect Hawaiian’s premium economy to be similar to a US domestic first class product, with generous recline and enhanced privacy, potentially with the addition of headrest winglets.

Redefined A330 First Class Suites

Alongside a brand-new premium economy cabin on the A330, Hawaiian is also investing in its A330 first-class hard product. While Hawaiian Airlines’ A330s currently feature a lie-flat first class product (Hawaiian’s equivalent of an international business class simply branded as first class for most domestic routes), the carrier has just 18 such seats, spread across three rows in a dated 2-2-2 configuration. This leaves passengers in the window seat without direct aisle access, a key feature for many of today’s best business class products.

The planned refresh will see new business class seats installed, though details are still limited. Nonetheless, it is expected that Hawaiian’s new business class will be largely similar to what is found on the airline’s 787-9s, which are currently in the process of being fully transferred to the Alaska side of the two carriers’ recently merged operation. Speaking on the decision, Alaska Air Group Chief Commercial Officer Andrew Harrison remarked;

“We’re going to be reconfiguring the A330 and increasing the first class, the J cabin. Over the next few years, [the new first class and premium economy] will generate significantly more revenue than they do today.”

Each of Hawaiian’s 787-9s features 34 business class suites, all with direct aisle access, lie-flat seats, and personal privacy. To retain a similar economy footprint as what can currently be found on their A330s, Hawaiian’s first-class cabin would likely be much smaller than on the 787, given the shorter length of the A330-200 vs the 787-9. In addition, some modifications to the carrier’s 787 product would likely have to be made as the A330 is slightly narrower than the 787 fuselage. Either way, with the redesign and a shift toward a more modern product, Hawaiian’s premium investment will allow the airline to continue competing for premium travel market share, especially on international and frequent, high-density domestic flights.

Updated Inflight Entertainment and WiFI

Not only is Hawaiian Airlines investing in its premium economy and first class hard product, upgrades to the airline’s soft product are also coming. As part of the A330 overhaul, the airline is expected to introduce new high-definition seatback entertainment screens with Bluetooth audio connectivity. These are expected to be similar to the 12-inch HD touchscreen entertainment monitors currently offered on Hawaiian’s 787-9s.

Complimenting the new inflight screens, Hawaiian has rolled out fast, free onboard WiFi powered by Starlink technology. The rollout began in early 2024 and is now available on all the carrier’s A330 and A321neo aircraft, allowing passengers to stream or work with the fastest inflight WiFi available. Historically, Hawaiian hasn’t offered any inflight WiFi, even for purchase, making its partnership even more exciting.

In addition, Hawaiian will launch an updated and modernized mobile app to better serve its passengers. This app refresh will make booking and trip management easier, with self-service features like changing flights and redeeming award travel on Hawaiian partners. For Hawaiian employees, the carrier is investing in new technology to assist them in their roles across the Hawaiian operation, as well as merging its passenger service system with Alaska Airlines by late April.

All Part Of The $600M Kahu’ewai Hawai’i Investment Plan

Hawaiian’s investment in its A330 overhaul is part of a recently announced five-year, $600 million Kahu’ewai Hawai’i upgrade plan. Signifying “fresh water bursting forth as a metaphor for vital resources…, the investments will deliver benefits across Hawaiian Airlines and communities in Hawai’i today and for a long time to come,” Hawaiian Airlines said in a statement.

Starting this year, in 2026, Hawaiian will begin renovations at all five of the Hawaiian airports it serves. This includes construction works at Honolulu (HNL), Līhu’e (LIH), Kahului (OGG), Kona (KOA), and Hilo (ITO). These newly renovated lobbies and gate areas will see improved passenger flow and comfort, bringing open, bright spaces and more seating options for Hawaiian Airlines travelers.

In addition, Hawaiian has announced a brand-new 10,600 square foot first class lounge in Honolulu’s Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL), the carrier’s busiest hub. Planned to be constructed in the recently finished terminal one addition, Hawaiian’s new premium lounge will be full of light cream and blue colors, wood accents, and native Hawaiian plants. Currently, Hawaiian operates two lounges in Honolulu, the Plumeria lounge for international and long-haul domestic first class passengers and the Premier Club for all other eligible passengers.

The Hawaiian Airlines Fleet in 2026

As Hawaiian Airlines enters 2026, its fleet of 75 aircraft continues to evolve. Starting with the carrier’s widebody fleet, in 2018 Hawaiian finalized a brand-new widebody aircraft order for 10 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft. Deliveries began in 2024 and promised a new long-haul future for the airline. Today, according to planespotters.net data, Hawaiian operates a total of 4 787s with an average age of just two years. However, these aircraft are no longer primarily used on flights to the Hawaiian islands. Instead, Alaska Airlines has deployed the 787 on international routes from Seattle, notably to Seoul, with London and Reykjavík beginning in May 2026. This shift, a result of the two carriers’ $1.9 billion merger agreement in 2024, will see Alaska eventually take over all 787 operations, with the first Alaska-branded 787 already having been delivered to the carrier.

This leaves Hawaiian with 34 Airbus A330 aircraft, split between 24 A330-200s and 10 A330-300s. The airline’s A330-200s are configured with 18 first class lie-flat seats and 260 economy seats, including 68 extra comfort seats. The remaining 10 A330-300s are all in cargo configurations, operating flights for Prime Air. Hawaiian’s A330s are on average under 13 years old, leaving them with at least eight more years of useful service. For comparison, Delta still operates an 11-strong fleet of A330-200s with an average age approaching 21 years. While Hawaiian’s 787 order was expected to play a role in modernizing its fleet, with the transfer of these aircraft to the Alaska side of the joint operation, Hawaiian will be left operating only A330s for the foreseeable future.

On the narrowbody side, Hawaiian continues to maintain a strong fleet of 19 Boeing 717s, though the carrier is currently looking for a replacement for its aging fleet of Boeing narrowbodies. In addition, Hawaiian has 18 A321neo aircraft with an average age of 7.1 years. These aircraft are arranged in a standard domestic configuration, with 16 first class recliners and 173 economy seats. However, given Alaska Airlines’ Boeing preference, it remains to be seen if these aircraft will stick around.

Ultimately, Hawaiian Airlines’ upcoming A330 transformation represents more than a routine cabin refresh; it marks a turning point for the airline as it redefines its role following its merger with Alaska Airlines. With the introduction of a true premium economy cabin, modernized first class, industry-leading WiFi, and sweeping airport investments, Hawaiian is aligning its onboard experience with the expectations of today’s premium travelers. Once these upgrades roll out later this decade, they promise to make the long journey to and from the Hawaiian islands more comfortable while maintaining the Aloha spirit.