Hawaiian Airlines is making a decisive pivot in its network strategy, pulling back from three underperforming routes and redeploying aircraft toward markets with more robust demand. Starting in November, nonstop service between the airline’s hub in Honolulu (HNL) and Boston (BOS), Seoul‑Incheon (ICN), and Fukuoka (FUK) will be suspended. The last flights from Boston and Fukuoka will operate on November 19; the Seoul route will end on November 21. Photo: Courtesy of Hawaiian Airlines

The decision, Hawaiian says, is rooted in hard numbers. Post‑pandemic travel from Asia to Hawaii has yet to rebound to pre‑2020 levels. According to the Hawaii Tourism Authority, Japanese visitor arrivals in 2024 were still down 54 percent compared with 2019, hindered in part by a weak yen. South Korean arrivals were down by nearly a third. “It’s always a difficult decision to suspend a route, especially in cities like Seoul, which we have enjoyed serving for over 14 years,” Hawaiian Airlines CEO Joe Sprague said in a statement. “However, despite our team’s best efforts, soft post‑pandemic travel demand from Asia, combined with various market challenges, has persisted… These adjustments will ensure we are meeting strong demand for travel to Hawaii – both internationally and domestically – while providing all our guests access to more destinations.”

Redeploying Capacity Where Demand Is Strong

Hawaiian plans to use the freed‑up aircraft to bolster capacity on high‑demand routes, both within Hawaii and abroad. This winter, service between Honolulu and Sydney (SYD) will increase from five flights a week to daily from December 18 through January 31. The Honolulu‑Papeete (PPT) will double to two weekly flights in March. Domestically, Hawaiian is intensifying its West Coast presence. Between November 21 and December 1, and again from December 19 to January 6, the carrier will operate five daily flights between Honolulu and Los Angeles (LAX). Photo: Airbus A321neo. Courtesy of Hawaiian Airlines

A fourth daily Honolulu‑Seattle (SEA) rotation will run from late November to mid‑April — a boost that aligns with its integration into Alaska’s West Coast network. Alex Da Silva, the airline’s regional communications director, emphasized that the shift is not a byproduct of the Alaska Airlines acquisition but a response to multi‑year demand patterns. “No seats are leaving Hawaii — we’re putting them to better use,” he said. “The underperformance has persisted for several years… after months of review and unfruitful efforts to stimulate the markets, we are making the decision to suspend service this November.”

Competitive Pressures and Post‑Merger Strategy

Boston‑Honolulu had the distinction of being the longest domestic route in the U.S., but competition from Delta Air Lines and weaker‑than‑expected passenger loads eroded profitability. Meanwhile, the SEA and LAX increases are part of a broader post‑merger alignment with Alaska Air Group. This winter, Cirium data shows Hawaiian’s departures on the HNL‑SEA route will rise by more than 220 percent compared with a year ago. Photo: Courtesy of Alaska Airlines

Changes are also being made to the fleet. In August, Alaska Airlines announced that all upcoming Boeing 787 Dreamliners will feature a brand‑new livery and will be assigned to the airline’s long‑haul international services from Seattle. With the introduction of these new Dreamliners, Alaska plans to launch flights to London Heathrow and Rome in 2026, thereby expanding its reach across the Atlantic. Additionally, the airline intends to offer flights to Reykjavik, Iceland, using a Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft. As a result of this strategic shift, Hawaiian will make its Airbus A330s the cornerstone of its long‑haul network. These planes are set to undergo cabin upgrades, which will include refreshed business‑class and premium economy seating. Photo: Airbus A330 Premium Cabin. Courtesy of Hawaiian Airlines

For travelers, the network shakeup means fewer options to Asia and Boston but more frequent — and potentially more competitive — service to the U.S. mainland and South Pacific. It’s a shift that sheds light on a reality facing many carriers: in the current market, capacity follows demand, and demand is now firmly pointed toward Hawaii’s strongest feeder markets.

Hawaiian Airlines Ditches Asia, Boston Flights to Chase Bigger Profits

Hawaiian Airlines will suspend nonstop service from Honolulu to Boston, Seoul‑Incheon, and Fukuoka in November 2025, citing weak post‑pandemic demand from Asia. The carrier will redeploy the freed aircraft to increase capacity on high‑demand routes such as Honolulu‑Sydney, Honolulu‑Papeete, Honolulu‑Los Angeles, and Honolulu‑Seattle. The move is part of a broader post‑merger strategy with Alaska Air Group and follows a shift in fleet strategy that will see Boeing 787 Dreamliners and Airbus A330s play key roles in long‑haul operations.