Hawaiian Airlines has finally inaugurated scheduled passenger flights with its first Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, delivered to the carrier in February 2024. The first flight departed Honoluluʻs Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) at 13:44 on April 15, 2024, headed for San Francisco International Airport (SFO) where it landed at 21:07. The flight was operated by 787-9, registered N781HA, which carries the name ‘Kapuahi’ after a star known as ‘Aldebaran’ in Western astronomy.
The aircraft, which received a formal blessing upon its arrival in Honolulu back in February 2024, will operate the carrier’s nonstop, daily flight between Honolulu to San Francisco (HA11/12) until May 14, 2024, when it will be joined by Hawaiian’s second 787-9 (N780NA) to begin dedicated service between Honolulu and Los Angeles (HA2/3) starting May 14, 2024 and Honolulu to Phoenix (HA36/37) on May 15, 2024.
“Today marks an incredible achievement for all of us at Hawaiian Airlines and I’d like to thank all of our teammates, Boeing, and our many partners for helping us make this moment possible,” said Peter Ingram, president and CEO of Hawaiian Airlines. “Our 787-9 is a true flagship product that, when paired with the award-winning hospitality of our crew, will provide guests with an unforgettable Hawaiʻi travel experience.”
Guests on the inaugural 787 flight were welcomed with fresh lei (flower garlands) and were treated to live music and hula by the Hawaiian Airlines Serenaders, a local music group. The passengers were also among the first to watch the carrierʻs new in-flight safety video, in which 57 cast members, all Hawaiian Airlines employees and family members, share important safety information from breathtaking locations throughout the Hawaiian Islands.
According to the carrier, the moment customers step onboard Hawaiian’s 787-9s, they will be “immersed in an island-inspired design in a cabin that evokes Hawaiʻi’s beauty through form, texture, and soothing sunrise and sunset lighting”.
The 34 Leihōkū (garland of stars) business class suites feature lie-flat seating, an 18-inch in-flight entertainment screen, personal power outlets, wireless cell phone charging, and direct aisle access. Set in a 1-2-1 configuration with privacy doors, the suites offer privacy or a shared experience with combinable double suites allowing couples to fall asleep while “gazing at a starlit ceiling inspired by the constellations that guided early Polynesian voyagers”, according to Hawaiian.
Hawaiian’s 787-9 Main Cabin consists of 266 Collins Aerospace Aspire seats with ergonomically contoured back and armrests, maximizing space and offering more shoulder and hip room. The seats each feature a 12-inch seatback monitor with USB-A and USB-C charging ports. Economy class guests can also select from 79 Extra Comfort seats located toward the front of the cabin to enjoy more legroom and have access to AC power outlets.
The carrier currently has a further 11 787-9s on order and has already accepted delivery of its second aircraft, N780NA which remains in the US at the time of writing. Hawaiian is scheduled to have three 787-9s in service by the end of 2024, with the remaining deliveries arriving through to 2027.