Hawaiian’s $600M Upgrade: Premium Airports, New Loyalty

Hawaiian Airlines has unveiled a five-year initiative committing more than $600 million to strengthen its operations and brand across the islands. The Kahuʻewai Hawaiʻi Investment Plan is designed to modernize infrastructure, enhance the guest experience, and deepen community connections for travelers flying to and from Hawaii.

The plan comes as Hawaiian Airlines continues integration efforts following its merger with Alaska Airlines.

Airport and onboard enhancements

A significant portion of the investment will go toward airport upgrades, particularly at Honolulu International Airport, where Hawaiian plans to expand premium lounges, improve gate facilities, and enhance passenger flow.

Neighbor island airports such as Kahului and Lihue will also see improvements, including expanded gate areas and the addition of locally inspired cultural artwork to reflect Hawaiian heritage.

In parallel, Hawaiian is investing in aircraft cabin upgrades with refreshed seating and upgraded WiFi across its Airbus A330 fleet. These aircraft primarily serve long-haul routes across the Asia-Pacific region, where comfort is a crucial factor for competitiveness.

Loyalty and community focus

The airline is expanding its HawaiianMiles loyalty program by introducing more flexible partner award options, dynamic redemption pricing, and broader status match opportunities with partner airlines.

Community investment is another central pillar of the plan. Hawaiian will be investing in scholarships, workforce development programs, and environmental initiatives. These funds will support training for more than 7,000 employees and back native Hawaiian conservation projects, including efforts tied to emissions offset programs on key routes.

Technology modernization

Planned technology upgrades include AI-powered customer service chatbots, biometric boarding processes, and internal employee dashboards that support predictive maintenance and operational planning.

Many of these tools build on pilot programs and mobile app beta tests launched in 2025.

Photo by Josh Withers on Unsplash