Hawaiian Airlines 717-200 Replacement

Hawaiian Airlines (and the Alaska Air Group) just announced that they will replace their 19-plane 717-200 fleet with 737-890s from Alaska Airlines, painted in the current Hawaiian Airlines livery. The fleet replacement is scheduled to begin in 2028, as the 717-200s, whose current average age is 24.5 years, will be retired. Alaska's 737-800 fleet average age is currently 18.3 years. The air group plans to rebrand and renovate the cabins, and will feature 30 more Premium Class seats, as well as Starlink wi-fi.

Further information in this Hawaiian Airlines / Alaska Air group news release.

HISTORICAL NOTE

In the late 1990s, Hawaiian Airlines once considered the 737NG series for replacement of their DC-9-51 fleet, before going the 717-200s (once known as the MD-95).

Air Canada's YVR-HNL Adjustment

With the wind down of the winter season, Air Canada switched its daytime flight from YVR to HNL [ACA517/516] from a daily 737-8 service, to a weekly 787-9 flight on Saturdays. C-FGDX (c/n 35269, l/n 395, f/n 836) made today's flight from YVR.

United Airlines' GUM Base To Switch To 737-8s

United Airlines has sent its first 737-8 to its GUM base, to begin the switch from the 737-824s to the 737-8s. N17302 (c/n 67559, l/n 8560, f/n 7302) began its ferry flight from MIA to GUM, with overnight stops at SFO and HNL. The MIA-SFO leg was flown as UAL3937, SFO-HNL as UAL3938, and HNL-GUM as UAL3939. There are 11 737-824s based at GUM, and it will be a one-for-one swap.

More 737-8s will be ferrying through HNL from next month, then the 737-824s will be ferried to the mainland.

Further information in this United Airlines press release.

Mahalo to Instagram user @palauanguy for the top photo taken at GUM.

Korean Air Switches To The 777-300ER

Korean Air switched from their 787-10 to the 777-300ER today. HL7783 (c/n 37644, l/n 806), the SkyTeam-liveried 777-3B5ER made this morning's flight. This fleet change is scheduled to run the month of January.