Hawaiian Airlines announced it will suspend service to three underperforming destinations this November, marking the carrier's first major network restructuring since Alaska Air Group completed its $1.9 billion acquisition. The airline will discontinue routes between Honolulu and Incheon, South Korea; Fukuoka, Japan; and Boston, Massachusetts, with changes taking effect in November 2025.
The route cuts reflect deeper challenges Hawaiian has faced in certain markets, particularly what the company describes as "soft post-pandemic travel demand from Asia combined with various market challenges," according to Honolulu Star-Advertiser. CEO Joe Sprague acknowledged the difficulty of the decision, noting that Hawaiian has served Seoul for over 14 years, while the Fukuoka and Boston routes were both launched in 2019.
"The underperformance has persisted for several years – and not just year-over-year – on all three routes being discontinued," Alex Da Silva, Hawaiian Airlines regional communications director for Hawaii, told Hawaii News Now. Despite nearly a year of combination with Alaska Airlines and months of review, efforts to stimulate these markets proved unsuccessful.
Aircraft Repositioned to Stronger Markets
The suspended routes will free up aircraft for Hawaiian's strategic expansion in higher-demand destinations. "No seats are leaving Hawaii — we're putting them to better use," Da Silva explained to Hawaii News Now. Honolulu-Sydney service will increase to daily flights from five weekly flights starting December, while the airline plans two weekly flights from Honolulu to Papeete starting in March.
Hawaiian's current service frequency to the suspended destinations includes five weekly flights between Honolulu and South Korea, three weekly flights to Japan, and four weekly flights to Boston, as reported by KHON2. The carrier will also add five daily flights between Honolulu and Los Angeles during peak season and four daily flights from Honolulu to Seattle.
Merger Integration Continues
Da Silva emphasized that the route changes are not related to Alaska Airlines taking over regulatory command, though the timing coincides with the carriers' ongoing integration process. Alaska Airlines Group expects $500 million of revenue and cost benefits from the merger by 2027. The merger, completed on September 18, 2024, saw Alaska acquire Hawaiian for $1.9 billion in cash plus assumption of approximately $900 million in debt.
Alaska's acquisition of Hawaiian provided the Seattle-based carrier with widebody aircraft, pilots, and international networks that complement Alaska's primarily domestic narrowbody operations. The combined entity now serves more than 140 destinations throughout North America, Central America, Asia and across the Pacific.
Alternative Connections Available
Hawaiian emphasized it will continue serving Asian markets through other routes and partnerships. The carrier remains committed to providing "robust Hawaiian Airlines service between Asia and Hawaii through our nonstop Japan flights, and via one-stop connections to and from Incheon and beyond with our global partner airlines," according to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser.
Starting September 12, Hawaiian will begin five-times-weekly flights between Seattle and Incheon, while passengers flying between Honolulu and Boston can connect daily on Alaska Airlines flights via Seattle, Portland, San Francisco and San Diego. The route suspensions represent Hawaiian's most significant network changes since Alaska's takeover, signaling the merged carrier's commitment to optimizing operations for profitability while maintaining its presence in Hawaii's crucial tourism market.
