HONOLULU — A roomier seat and a few extra perks are coming to the middle of the cabin when Hawaiian Airlines begins installing premium-economy sections on its workhorse Airbus A330 jets. This aircraft carries most of the traffic between Honolulu and the U.S. mainland as well as key destinations in Asia, Australia, New Zealand, and the South Pacific.
What Travelers Need to Know About Hawaiian’s First Premium Economy Cabin
During Alaska Air Group’s most recent earnings call, Chief Financial Officer Shane Tackett confirmed that Hawaiian’s entire fleet of 24 A330s will be overhauled. “We’re going to be putting premium — international premium economy — seats on those planes,” Tackett said during an earnings call. The new cabin will slot between coach and the airline’s lie-flat business class, offering wider recliners, more legroom, and upgraded dining at a price designed to stay well below the front cabin. Although Hawaiian has not released seat counts or pitch dimensions, premium-economy cabins on comparable wide-body jets usually feature two or three rows in a 2-3-2 configuration, with seat pitches ranging from 37 to 40 inches. Travelers can also expect an elevated meal service, larger entertainment screens, an amenity kit, and perhaps priority boarding, all of which have become standard on peer airlines’ premium-economy products.
Timeline: Over the ‘Next Few Years’
The A330 refresh is part of a broader cabin modernization project that the carrier first hinted at in May. Tackett told analysts the retrofits will roll out “over the next few years,” adding that refreshed interiors and additional first-class seats are also on the drawing board. That phased schedule means travelers are unlikely to see the new premium-economy section in regular service until late 2025 at the earliest, but the airline could unveil a prototype sooner for marketing purposes.
Why the A330 Matters in an Alaska–Hawaiian Future
When Alaska Airlines acquired Hawaiian late last year, executives said the combined company would assign each carrier a distinct long-haul role. Alaska Airlines will eventually fly all Boeing 787 Dreamliner routes out of Seattle, while Hawaiian will keep using its Airbus A330s as the “backbone” of its trans-Pacific network. “That’ll be the primary product,” Alaska Air Group Chief Executive Officer Ben Minicucci said, as Minicucci told The Points Guy. Even after Hawaiian begins taking delivery of its own Dreamliners, those 787s are expected to migrate north to Alaska’s hub at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, leaving the A330s to shuttle tourists and returning residents between the islands and gateway cities such as Los Angeles, San Francisco, Las Vegas, and Phoenix. Internationally, the twin-aisle Airbus flies nonstop to Tokyo’s Narita International Airport, Seoul, Sydney, Auckland, Papeet,e and Pago Pago, among others.
The Aircraft: Aging Cabins, New Tech
Hawaiian’s A330s entered the fleet between 2010 and 2017, and frequent flyers have noticed that the interiors now lag behind industry trends. Business class features a 2-2-2 layout without direct aisle access for every passenger, and economy seats still rely on dated seat-back screens for entertainment. The airline has tried to soften the rough edges by adding fast, free Starlink Wi-Fi, but hard-product updates are overdue. The upcoming retrofit will address those shortcomings in three ways:
- More lie-flat seats: The business-class cabin will grow, giving leisure travelers and corporate passengers more opportunities to redeem miles or buy flatbeds.
- Premium economy insertion: A dedicated mid-tier cabin adds a product that has proven lucrative for competing carriers.
- Refresh throughout: Updated upholstery, LED lighting, and new lavatories are expected, though specific materials have not been announced.
The Premium-Economy Boom Spreads Across the Pacific
Hawaiian’s decision mirrors a broader industry shift. United’s leadership recently admitted it had underestimated demand for its Premium Plus cabin and now plans to increase the number of Premium Plus seats on future deliveries. Delta, American, and numerous Asian and European carriers have made similar moves, leveraging premium-economy fares to widen margins without cannibalizing business-class revenue. From a traveler’s standpoint, the product hits a sweet spot: more space on an 8- to 10-hour flight without the four-figure price tag of a full lie-flat seat. Families who once paid for extra-legroom exit-row seats and corporate flyers who can’t justify business class now have an alternative that includes upgraded dining, larger entertainment screens, and amenity kits.
Impact on Route Map and Fleet Deployment
While cabin improvements are coming to the A330, some routes will see a downgrade in aircraft type. Alaska Air Group intends to redirect its newest 787-9 Dreamliners to international services out of Seattle starting in January, which means at least one Hawaiian-operated route currently flown by the 787 will switch back to an A330. The carrier did not specify which flight would lose Dreamliner service, but the move underscores the importance of refreshing the Airbus fleet if it is to remain competitive for the long term.
How the Retrofit Could Affect Award Space and Fares
Premium seats already play an outsize role in profitability for both Alaska and Hawaiian. Alaska began reconfiguring its Boeing 737s this year, adding first-class and extra-legroom seats; 90 aircraft, or roughly 40 percent of the 737 fleet slated for conversion, were complete at last count. Hawaiian’s A330 project aims for similar revenue upside:
- More first-class seats could dilute upgrade waitlists but also lower the cash price of a lie-flat seat during off-peak periods.
- Premium-economy pricing will likely settle in the $300–$600 each-way range on mainland routes, though the airline has not released fare data.
- Award availability could improve in coach as passengers trade up, but mileage rates for premium economy remain unannounced.
Tips for Travelers Eyeing Hawaii in 2025 and Beyond
- Monitor retrofit progress: Use Hawaiian’s seat-map tool; a 2-3-2 layout between business and coach often signals premium economy.
- Leverage companion fares: Alaska’s $99 companion voucher is now valid on Hawaiian-operated flights, an easy way to test the refreshed cabins without paying two full fares.
- Book early: First-class and premium-economy sections are small; seats disappear quickly during school breaks and Golden Week.
- Check connection options: With Dreamliners moving to Seattle, passengers in the Pacific Northwest may find a nonstop 787 to Tokyo on Alaska but a one-stop itinerary through Honolulu on Hawaiian for other Asian destinations.
- Watch for introductory offers: Airlines often publish discounted fares or bonus-mile promos when rolling out a new cabin product.
Hawaiian Airlines’ plan to retrofit its A330s with premium-economy seats underscores a rapidly expanding niche between coach and business class. For travelers, the overhaul promises a more competitive product on long-haul flights that are central to Hawaii vacations and Pacific Rim business trips. Keep an eye on retrofit timelines, fare sales, and mileage charts so you can try the new cabin as soon as it rolls out.
