Hawaiian Airlines to add premium economy to its Airbus A330 fleet
Hawaiian Airlines is getting ready to add premium economy to its workhorse fleet of long-haul planes.
Last week, executives at Hawaiian’s new parent company, Alaska Air Group, confirmed the comfortable recliners are planned for the airline’s Airbus A330s — older aircraft that Hawaiian uses heavily on flights between the U.S. mainland and the Aloha State, and on international routes from Honolulu to Asia, Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific.
The premium economy cabin, which blends some of the comforts of business class at a lower price point, is part of a larger cabin overhaul for the older A330s, which TPG first reported in May.
Expect that refresh to include more lie-flat seats and an overall nicer onboard experience — not to mention the new cabin in the middle of the plane, executives said.
“We're going to be reconfiguring the A330s and increasing the first-class cabin ... we’re going to be putting premium — international premium economy — seats on [those planes],” Alaska Chief Financial Officer Shane Tackett said, speaking Thursday on the company’s earnings call.
Those cabin retrofits, Tackett noted, are expected over the “next few years” with “refreshed interiors and enhanced amenities.”
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Hawaiian Airbus A330 upgrades planned
It should be a welcome upgrade for Hawaiian’s A330s, for a few reasons.
One, the cabins are showing their age.
I flew the twin-aisle aircraft this spring when Hawaiian inaugurated Alaska Air Group’s first intercontinental service from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) to Tokyo.
While a lie-flat seat is always welcome for a long flight, it is an overall dated product up front, with the 2-2-2 configuration — and without the universal direct aisle access that’s become the industry norm for new premium international cabins in recent years.
The coach cabin is coming due for a face-lift, too (although the fast, free Starlink Wi-Fi sure gives the experience a far more modern feel).
Increase your points balance: The best credit card welcome bonuses of July 2025
Hawaiian losing some Boeing 787 Dreamliner service
Meanwhile, at least some of Hawaiian’s more traditional routes are due to lose service on its beautiful, brand-new Boeing 787 Dreamliners.
As TPG reported last week, Alaska Air Group is planning to swap in the Dreamliner on its Seattle flights to Tokyo’s Narita International Airport (NRT) starting in January.
That will mean the end of 787 service on at least one current Hawaiian route, a spokesperson for the airline confirmed.
Read more: Alaska Airlines orders more Boeing 787s, to open Dreamliner base in Seattle
And, Alaska CEO Ben Minicucci has said the company's long-term plans include Alaska Airlines, not Hawaiian, operating long-haul Dreamliner service out of Seattle — presumably with the 787s Hawaiian had ordered before the two airlines merged last year.
“What you’ll see is all the flights, international flights out of Seattle, on 787s. It’ll be all 787s and it’ll be operated by Alaska,” Minicucci told me in an interview in May.
For Hawaiian’s part, that means its 24 A330s will remain the "backbone," as Minicucci put it, of its West Coast and international flying out of Hawaii for years to come.
“That’ll be the primary product,” he told me this spring. “We’re excited about the [A]330s. They have such a great niche in our fleet.”
Premium economy boom
Soon, that fleet will apparently offer premium economy, which has boomed in popularity in recent years.
A myriad of global airlines (including the top U.S. carriers) have added the more spacious recliners in the middle of their long-haul planes, which typically include an elevated dining service and a few extra service touches like amenity kits and better entertainment offerings, on top of the larger seat.
Earlier this month, United Airlines said it had underestimated the demand for its Premium Plus cabin when it added the premium economy section to its planes late last decade — and now plans to outfit its jets with more of those mid-tier seats.
Alaska 40% done with Boeing 737 updates
Like other carriers, Alaska and Hawaiian have seen premium seats play an outsize role in driving profits in recent years, as travelers have shown an increased willingness to pay extra for high-end seats.
For that reason, Alaska Airlines in 2024 started reconfiguring its own fleet of Boeing 737s with a higher number of first-class and extra-legroom seats.
Last week, executives said retrofits were complete on 90 of its 737s — about 40% of the planes the carrier planned to update.
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| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
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You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
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Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.