Hawaiian Airlines Welcomes Its First Dreamliner Aircraft
The Hawaiʻi-based carrier adds the more modern Boeing 787-9 to its fleet.
In a step toward modernizing its fleet, Hawaiian Airlines added the first Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner to its aircraft lineup.
The aircraft, named Kapuahi (a red giant star known as Aldebaran in Western astronomy), will debut to passengers on April 15, when it will operate the carrier’s nonstop daily flights between Honolulu and San Francisco. The airlines expects to have three of its 12 Dreamliners by the end of the year, flying routes between Honolulu and Los Angeles on May 15 and Honolulu and Phoenix on May 16.
“This day has been a long time coming—in fact, today marks almost six years to the date when we first announced our investment in the 787-9 as the new flagship fleet for our company,” said Peter Ingram, president and CEO of Hawaiian Airlines, during his welcome remarks last week.
The arrival of this new aircraft comes as the airlines prepares for merging with Alaska Airlines and celebrating its 95th anniversary in November.
The main cabin on board the Dreamliner.
Photo: Courtesy of Hawaiian Airlines
The Boeing 787-9s are more fuel-efficient and capable of traveling greater distances. (Right now Hawaiian’s fleet consists of Airbus 330s, Airbus A321neos, and Boeing B717s.) They also have lower cabin altitude pressurization—passengers will feel less dehydrated and better rested—sensors that counter the effects of turbulence, larger storage bins on board and mood lighting.
The 34 units in the Leihōkū Suites offer guests lie-flat seating in a 1-2-1 configuration.
Photo: Courtesy of Hawaiian Airlines
The aircraft will also allow Hawaiian to offer the kind of premium experiences travelers want. This 300-seat plane will feature Leihōkū Suites, 34 suites set in a 1-2-1 configuration with lie-flat seating, an 18-inch in-flight entertainment screen, personal power outlets, wireless cell phone charging and direct aisle access.
Like with other aircraft in Hawaiian’s fleet, this one has a culturally significant name. Kapuahi is a red giant star known as Aldebaran in Western astronomy. It is the brightest star in the constellation Taurus and appears in the Pacific sky alongside Makali’i, a celestial cluster of great importance in Hawaiian storytelling, wayfinding and agriculture.
The airline worked with design consultant Teague to realize its vision of honoring Hawaiian culture and voyaging in a modern airplane.
Photo: Courtesy of Hawaiian Airlines
The look and feel of the interior celebrates early Polynesian navigators who sailed the Pacific by observing the stars, sun, winds, waves and wildlife. There are nods to Hawaiʻi’s natural environment, from wall panels in native wood grains to the bathroom flooring inspired by shimmering black volcanic sand, and laminates and fabrics reflecting the forms of native Hawaiian plants. Guests will also learn ‘ōlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian language) as they locate their seat row number and reference other placards installed throughout the airplane.
