Hawaiian Airlines will soon be refreshing its long haul fleet. The airline has 12 Boeing 787-9s on order, and the first of those jets should be delivered to the airline late this year, and enter service in early 2024. The airline has now revealed the full details of what interiors we can expect on these Dreamliners.
In this post:
Details of Hawaiian Airlines’ Boeing 787 cabins
Hawaiian Airlines’ new Boeing 787-9s will feature 300 seats. This includes 34 fully flat business class seats with direct aisle access, representing the first time that the airline has offered direct aisle access from every business class seat. On top of that, the airline will have 266 economy class seats, nearly one-third of which will feature extra legroom.
Below you can see a video about the inspiration for the Boeing 787 interiors, and then I’ll talk a bit more about the details below.
Hawaiian’s new 787 business class
Hawaiian Airlines’ Boeing 787s will feature 34 business class seats, in a 1-2-1 configuration with doors at each seat. Specifically, the airline has selected the Adient Aerospace Ascent seat. This is a joint venture between Boeing and Adient, with the latter primarily manufacturing car seats.
While the plan was initially for Hawaiian Airlines to be the launch customer for this seat, this is also the product that Qatar Airways has on its Boeing 787-9s. For what it’s worth, American Airlines is expected to use a customized version of this product as its new long haul business class seat.
The business class seats will be known as the Leihōkū Suites, and each seat will have an 18″ personal entertainment monitor, power outlets, and wireless charging. Furthermore, the center seats are designed in such a way that couples will essentially be head-to-head in the reclined position if the partition is lowered (though it’s not a double bed, in the typical sense of the word).
Hawaiian’s new 787 economy class
Hawaiian Airlines’ Boeing 787s will feature 266 economy class seats, in a 3-3-3 configuration. Specifically, the airline has selected the Collins Aerospace Aspire seat. 79 of those seats will be Extra Comfort, which is Hawaiian’s extra legroom seating.
The economy class seats will feature ergonomically contoured back and arm rests, 12″ personal televisions, as well as USB-A and USB-C charging ports. On top of that, the extra legroom seating will feature AC power outlets at every seat.
My take on Hawaiian Airlines’ new Boeing 787 interiors
Hawaiian Airlines sort of operates in its own world, given that it’s primarily a leisure airline, with many passengers just taking point-to-point flights. Hawaiian Airlines’ premium cabins aren’t generally full of business travelers, but rather have a much higher percentage of leisure travelers.
So as a result, Hawaiian Airlines has never really had a competitive premium product, at least in the traditional sense. Hawaiian Airlines’ A330s feature flat beds, though they’re in a 2-2-2 configuration, and aren’t particularly comfortable, in my opinion.
With that in mind, I have to say that the new Boeing 787s look fantastic:
- I love all the local design touches, which definitely give the cabin a bit of flair
- This is a fantastic business class product to begin with, and those center seats will be great for couples traveling together
- I do find it a bit weird that Hawaiian doesn’t seemingly intend to introduce Wi-Fi on these new planes, at least initially
I can’t wait to fly one of these Hawaiian 787s!
Bottom line
Hawaiian Airlines will be taking delivery of its Boeing 787s starting later this year, and this represents a huge upgrade for the airline. Both business class and economy class look comfortable, and in particular, it’s nice to see Hawaiian Airlines finally offering a competitive business class experience.
What do you make of Hawaiian Airlines’ new Boeing 787 interiors?
As a resident of Hawaiʻi who travels to NYC at least once a year, unless I can afford the business class, I'll be flying the Delta nonstop. 3-3-3 is just stupid for an 11.5 hour flight.
I agree, 3-3-3 on 787 is definitely not a thing I want to try. I’ve flown JAL 2-4-2 and ANA 3-3-3 economy on their 787 (albeit only once for each) for the same 4 hour route and the difference is already large, the ANA seat makes me tired and stressed even on such a short flight. But sadly narrower seats is just extremely popular, heck Qantas will put 3-3-3 for their project Sunrise that flies...
I agree, 3-3-3 on 787 is definitely not a thing I want to try. I’ve flown JAL 2-4-2 and ANA 3-3-3 economy on their 787 (albeit only once for each) for the same 4 hour route and the difference is already large, the ANA seat makes me tired and stressed even on such a short flight. But sadly narrower seats is just extremely popular, heck Qantas will put 3-3-3 for their project Sunrise that flies like 20hours, on A350s that is only about 12cm wider than the 787(~1cm/seat maximum). Some a350 don’t even offer wider seats (they make the aisle wider for faster boarding) so it is just as narrow as on a 3-3-3 787 at ~17”. 17” wide seat is probably the norm for the foreseeable future but dang do I hope fsc will bring back wider seats like 8 abreast 787, I don’t mind it being more expensive I just want fsc to actually offer a full service.
Those center seats are very close. Great for couples, but I’d hate to have a stranger with halitosis next to me, even if you can raise the divider after takeoff.
Funny how many folks don't understand basic economics and math. They would never ever consider 2-4-2 as it's a lost seat in each row. 2-5-2, however, used to be the common layout on older wide bodies and could have potentially worked.
The reason almost no one uses 2x5x2 anymore is because the "boxes" that bundle electronics for IFE and seat power are generally constructed/configured to serve 3 adjacent seats.
3x3x3 requires three such boxes, but 2x5x2 requires (the weight of) four, in exchange for no additional benefit.
That's why when individual IFE started become more of a thing in the early '00s, the five middle-seat configuration saw its way out.
Agree with many of the other comments. Given Hawaii is primarily a leisure market, I'm very surprised that the new business class is 1-2-1 instead of 2-1-2. Seems like a lot of couples--likely paying a fortune--will be needlessly flying single window seats as the middles quickly fill-up. Similarly for economy, what are they thinking going 3-3-3 instead of 2-4-2? They should REALLY think about offering purchase of an empty middle seat for a reasonable cost....
Agree with many of the other comments. Given Hawaii is primarily a leisure market, I'm very surprised that the new business class is 1-2-1 instead of 2-1-2. Seems like a lot of couples--likely paying a fortune--will be needlessly flying single window seats as the middles quickly fill-up. Similarly for economy, what are they thinking going 3-3-3 instead of 2-4-2? They should REALLY think about offering purchase of an empty middle seat for a reasonable cost. I also don't understand why they wouldn't introduce a premium economy section considering that HA business class often commands 4x and even 5x standard economy rates on the BOS/JFK-HNL routes!
Don't get me wrong, having flown the (crappy) HA A330 in business class, this hard product looks much improved...but it still feels like they missed a lot of easy opportunities to make this an 'experience'--for both passengers in business & economy.
Agree with the others that there should be a Premium Y section in 2-3-2.
Why not 2-4-2 config? Because they can fit 9 seats in a row…
The experience itself is riding on Hawaiian Airlines to get to/from the islands with their hospitality which you can’t get from any other American airliner. Wish they added the PE too!
As a resident of Hawaii, I much prefer the flights to the mainland with the 2/4/2 or 2/3/2 configuration for economy or premium economy when flying as a couple. That's why I don't fly Alaska Airlines. The current A330s offer what I consider to be a hidden gem: premium economy seats (11A, 11B or 11H, 11J) in their own "private" space, towards the business class section, but with no seat in front or behind them....
As a resident of Hawaii, I much prefer the flights to the mainland with the 2/4/2 or 2/3/2 configuration for economy or premium economy when flying as a couple. That's why I don't fly Alaska Airlines. The current A330s offer what I consider to be a hidden gem: premium economy seats (11A, 11B or 11H, 11J) in their own "private" space, towards the business class section, but with no seat in front or behind them. We've enjoyed those seats on flights from Honolulu to JFK or NRT for much less than the Business Class seats. I'll miss them.
Hawaiian, Alaska and JetBlue should have merged.
Hawaiian can have a "fantastic business class product" but, at the end of the day, the airline's catering (especially wine) and ground services, catering (notably the lounges) are horrible and subpar for what is effectively a national airline.
Wish they had premium economy. Especially now with 3x3x3 configuration. Makes flying the A330 a better option if going economy.
At least for me, business is just way to expensive. Around 3-4x and economy ticket. Extra comfort is kind of bleh. Now i'm I'm either bidding on a business class upgrade or just roughing it in economy. If premium economy is about double an economy ticket, I'd gladly pay for premium economy.
Agree, which they had included some PE seats, especially since business class is not optimal for couples. 3-3-3 seating in economy, even with extra legroom is a nonstarter. Best thing about the A330 is only 2 seats by the window in economy
Very substandard seat to me: it's covered with cheap plastic instead of soft moisture wicking cloth.
Plastic or plasticized leather is barely marginally comfortable when microforated as in Mercedes car seats, and that's not the case here.
For someone with so much experience to focus on frills and miss what really counts is baffling. And no wonder Asian carriers get all the premium traffic over the TransPacific (none of this cheap plastic).
Hopefully, this will open up Honolulu to London!
Exciting!
What routes?
Again, such a well-written article. Great video. I can't wait to find out which routes will get these planes. I hope Austin but prob Boston, NY, or Tokyo. 12 planes is a good start.
Been burned too many times by customer service issues to ever want to fly Hawaiian again to or from the mainland. I have tried to like them but each time I've flown with them I've regretted it. From the on time performance (ever heard the expression "island time") to the inflexible seat upgrade fee and refund policies to the equipment swaps to the unprofessional handling of IRROPS. Now I avoid them and enjoy my travel to the islands much more.
AirPod Max for everyone seated in Business?
With a high percentage of couples/honeymooners traveling together (who can't afford business class), I think they missed the opportunity to add premium economy (with 2-3-2 seating) or at least extra legroom with 2-4-2 arrangement. Who wants to pay to upgrade to extra legroom and sit with a third wheel? I'd opt for the A330 in economy. Heck, they should've kept their A330neo order!
@Ben,
Respectfully, with an understanding of how you work when you travel...you're going to Hawaii...for vacation...relax and disconnect for a few hours. Being away from the internet for a little bit can be refreshing ;)
I’ve needed to finish a work day on my commute to/from Hawaii many times and can’t fly HA bc of their lack of WiFi. They also don’t have great flight times for work purposes, so for many, it means taking another full day of PTO to travel without WiFi.
Just the same as every other business class nowadays. It's fine but nothing special.
100%
From Ben's opening remarks I thought it was going to be something special. Alas, it's just an average business class seat. Nice, to be sure. But nothing remotely special.
Ever seen Alaska’s First/Business class?
While Hawaiians A330 Business class isn’t competitive with long haul international flights and select Domestic flights like DFW, ORD and EWR, they blow the competition away when compared to what most flights from the west coast offer. The only other lie flat option is United’s 777 dorm style.
Why would an airline with a high percentage of couples travelling for leisure reasons together choose center seats that angle away from each other?
Their heads are closer together, makes conversation easier.
Does it though? Feels really awkward. I predict a lot of neck pain from having to turn your head at a ridiculous angle to say something to the person next to you. Much less have an actual conversation.