Hawaiian Airlines Chooses Aging 737-800 Over Newer Options for Fleet Replacement

Hawaiian Airlines has announced that it will replace its aging Boeing 717 fleet with new Hawaiian-branded Boeing 737-800s on Neighbor Island routes starting in 2028. The 717 fleet, which averages approximately 24.5 years old and operates roughly 160 daily segments linking Honolulu to Maui, Kauai, Kona, and Hilo, is one of the oldest active commercial jet fleets in the United States.

The Boeing 737-800, a nearly three-decade-old design, was chosen over newer options such as the 737 MAX or A220 due to fleet commonality. Alaska Airlines operates one of the largest 737 fleets in the world and selected the 737-800 for its existing infrastructure, including pilot type ratings, maintenance facilities, spare parts inventory, ground support equipment, training programs, and operational procedures.

The 737-800 is available on the secondary market as airlines worldwide replace them with MAX variants. This choice prioritizes speed and operational simplicity over fuel efficiency gains a newer aircraft type would provide. The combination of fleet commonality, aircraft availability, and proven durability in high-cycle operations made the 737-800 the most practical choice for Hawaiian.