Following Alaska Acquisition, Hawaiian Airlines Cuts Presence in Asia and the East Coast
The iconic Boston route disappears along with flights to Seoul and Fukuoka. Capacity will be reallocated to stronger destinations like Los Angeles, Seattle, and Sydney.
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Hawaiian Airlines has announced a significant restructuring of its transpacific network, effective this November, as part of a strategic adjustment following its acquisition by Alaska Air Group. The airline will suspend three underperforming long-haul routes and reallocate that capacity to increase frequencies in high-demand markets on the U.S. West Coast and in the South Pacific.
Nonstop services from Honolulu (HNL) to Boston (BOS), Seoul-Incheon (ICN), and Fukuoka (FUK) will be discontinued. The company attributes this decision to a combination of factors that undermined the profitability of these operations.
Joe Sprague, CEO of Hawaiian Airlines, stated that “it is always a difficult decision to suspend a route, especially in cities like Seoul, which we have served for more than 14 years. However, despite our team's efforts, soft post-pandemic travel demand from Asia, coupled with various market challenges, has persisted in Seoul, as well as in Fukuoka and Boston.”
The Honolulu-Boston route, which held the title of the longest domestic route in the United States at over 5,095 miles (8,200 kilometers), will end its operations on November 19. High operational costs and insufficient demand to sustain it profitably prompted its termination. Passengers will still be able to connect daily to Boston through the Alaska Airlines network with layovers in Seattle (SEA), Portland (PDX), San Francisco (SFO), and San Diego (SAN).
In Asia, the route to Fukuoka, operated three times a week, will also conclude on November 19. With this move, no U.S. carrier will offer nonstop flights to this Japanese destination. The persistence of a weak yen has been a key factor discouraging travel from Japan to Hawaii. Meanwhile, the link with Seoul-Incheon, a highly competitive market, will operate its final flight on November 21. Passengers to both Asian destinations can connect via Hawaiian's services to Tokyo-Haneda (HND) and Osaka-Kansai (KIX), and through partner airlines such as Japan Airlines.
Key Info: Hawaiian's Network Changes
Which routes is Hawaiian Airlines suspending? Nonstop flights from Honolulu (HNL) to Boston (BOS), Fukuoka (FUK), and Seoul-Incheon (ICN) will be canceled starting in November 2025.
Why are these routes being suspended? The airline cites weak post-pandemic demand from Asia, a weak yen affecting travel from Japan, high operational costs (in the case of Boston), and strong competition.
Where will the capacity be moved? The aircraft will be used to increase flights to Sydney (SYD), Papeete (PPT), Los Angeles (LAX), and Seattle (SEA).
How can I fly to the canceled destinations? Hawaiian will offer connections through partner airlines like Alaska Airlines (for Boston) and Japan Airlines (for Fukuoka).
Capacity Reallocation to High-Demand Markets
The capacity freed up by the aircraft, primarily Airbus A330s, will be redirected to strengthen routes with robust performance and clear synergies with its new parent company.
Sydney (SYD), Australia: The route from Honolulu will increase from five to seven weekly flights (a daily service) between December 18 and January 31 to cover the peak Southern Hemisphere summer season.
Papeete (PPT), Tahiti: The connection will increase from one to two weekly flights starting in March, doubling the offering to French Polynesia.
Los Angeles (LAX): A fifth daily flight from Honolulu will be added during peak travel periods, from November 21 to December 1 and from December 19 to January 6.
Seattle (SEA): The Alaska Airlines hub will receive a fourth daily flight from Honolulu, operating from late November through mid-April 2026.
This reorganization reflects a clear strategy by Hawaiian Airlines to consolidate its operations on proven profitable leisure routes and strengthen the West Coast corridors that are fundamental to the combined network with Alaska Airlines.
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