At the time of this post going live, it would exactly a year since Hawaiian Airlines launched its Boeing 787 Dreamliner service. Even though the 787-9 is capable of flying for up to 16 to 17 hours depending on the aircraft configuration, Hawaiian has mostly kept its operations limited to the U.S. west coast, rotating them between cities such as Los Angeles, San Francisco and Phoenix.
With more Dreamliners being added to their fleet, Hawaiian will finally put them to good use, starting with non-stop service between Honolulu (HNL) and New York (JFK). The first flight departs Oahu Island on April 21, 2025, replacing the usual daily Airbus A330-200 as follows:
| Flight Number | Origin | Departing | Destination | Arriving | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HA50 | Honolulu (HNL) | 3:35 p.m. | New York (JFK) | 6:55 a.m. (+1 day) | Daily starting April 21, 2025 |
| HA51 | New York (JFK) | 9:05 a.m. | Honolulu (HNL) | 1:55 p.m. | Daily starting April 22, 2025 |
The 787 is scheduled to fly all the way until August 19, before they switch back to their older Airbus A330s. Even though launch day fares are pretty expensive, prices are more reasonable and on par with previous flights later in the week.
Their Boeing 787-9s are capable of seating 300 passengers, with 34 in their Leihōkū business class cabin and 266 in economy. On the upside, business class is a bit more private with a 1-2-1 all-aisle access seating configuration.
They use a customized version of the Adient Aerospace Ascent seats, which is also installed on Qatar Airways’ 787-9s, and will soon come to American Airlines’ 787-9s and Airbus A321XLRs.
Each Leihōkū suite features button-controlled lie-flat seats with a cubby for personal items; USB A and C charging ports, and a Qi wireless charging holder. There are also sliding doors and partitions for more privacy, along with an 18-inch IFE display with a wide range of movies, TV shows and music.
Economy class is split in a 3-3-3 configuration, with most offering 31 inches of seat pitch. Extra Comfort seats have additional leg room, coming in at 36 inches. All economy seats come with USB A and C charging ports, along with shared AC outlets. They also benefit from 12-inch IFE screens.
Being a somewhat leisure-focused carrier, some customers have complained about the seating configuration choice. On their A330s, almost all seats are paired, making it easy for couples to sit together. However, the 787 does bring some disconnect due to the odd pairing in both cabins. I guess none of that matters anymore given that Alaska Airlines has acquired Hawaiian, and may use these 787s for other non-Hawaii routes in the long run.
Credit: Bradley Wint/Gate CheckedEven though the 787 is a pleasure to fly on, customers might be unhappy to find out that this is the only type in their fleet that does not have internet access. Hawaiian has already outfitted their fleet of Airbus A330s and A321LRs with Starlink Wi-Fi, but is still working on completing certification for their 787s.
