Hawaiian Airlines (NYSE:ALK), now a unit of Alaska Air Group, announced a capital commitment of more than $600 million over the next five years to upgrade its airport infrastructure, technology platforms, and fleet interiors.
The initiative, dubbed the Kahu'ewai Hawai'i Investment Plan, represents the carrier’s most significant operational overhaul since its acquisition by Alaska Air.
The investment strategy focuses heavily on ground experience, with renovations planned for lobbies and gate areas at Honolulu, Līhu'e, Kahului, Kona, and Hilo airports.
A centerpiece of the infrastructure upgrade is a new 10,600-square-foot premium lounge scheduled for Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu.
These facility improvements aim to align the carrier’s hub operations with the broader premium service strategy of its parent company, Alaska Air Group.
Operational integration remains a key driver of the plan.
Hawaiian confirmed it will migrate to a shared passenger service system and formally join the oneworld alliance in late April.
The technology overhaul includes the launch of a redesigned mobile app and website this spring, intended to streamline booking and customer service functions that have previously operated on legacy systems.
Fleet modernization efforts outlined in the plan include the acquisition of three Airbus A330 aircraft currently off lease, expanding the carrier's widebody capacity.
The airline also set a 2028 timeline to begin retrofitting the interiors of its existing A330 fleet.
These cabin upgrades are designed to standardize the passenger experience across the combined Alaska-Hawaiian long-haul network.
The Kahu'ewai plan—named after a Hawaiian phrase signifying flowing water—also allocates capital toward sustainability and community initiatives.
The airline said it would expand its investments in sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and local community programs, though it did not specify the financial breakdown between infrastructure and sustainability commitments.
Shares of Alaska Air Group (NYSE:ALK) have been in focus as investors gauge the integration costs and synergy capture from the Hawaiian Airlines merger.
This $600 million allocation signals a long-term strategy to defend Hawaiian’s market share in the competitive trans-Pacific corridor while upgrading aging infrastructure at its island hubs.