Published on
August 14, 2025
Hawaiian Airlines, which is a subsidiary of Alaska Air Group, is set to suspend three long-haul international and domestic routes from its Honolulu (HNL) hub effective November 2025. This move is part of the carrier’s fleet optimization strategy following its acquisition by Alaska Air Group. The carrier will cease flights from Honolulu to Boston (BOS) and to Fukuoka (FUK) and Seoul Incheon (ICN) as it seeks to prioritize and concentrate on more optimally profitable routes. Rebook and refund options will be available to passengers on the affected flights. The existing Airbus A330-200 servicing these routes will be shifted to other routes that provide greater revenue.
Route Cuts: What Travelers Should Be Aware Of
Hawaiian Airlines has announced the suspension of the following services effective mid-November 2025:
Honolulu to Boston (BOS): 4x weekly
Honolulu to Fukuoka (FUK): 3x weekly
Honolulu to Seoul Incheon (ICN): 5x weekly
These changes reflect broader resource allocation shifts within Hawaiian Airlines and these changes will support the expansion of previously mentioned domestic flights. Moreover, these additions will also include servicing international destinations of high demand and popularity such as Papeete (PPT) and Sydney (SYD).
Shifting Focus to More Profitable Routes
Hawaiian Airlines CEO Joe Sprague noted that the international route cancellations came as a result of the stubbornly low demand post-pandemic. The airline struggled to be profitable on several long-haul routes, including the Boston service that was highly unprofitable due to only mediocre demand and hefty operational costs.
The Boston to Honolulu route was once the longest nonstop domestic flight in the U.S. at over 5,000 miles. However, it was unable to gather sufficient demand to support its high operating costs. Delta tried operating a similar route in 2019, but ceased the service shortly after due to unsustainable financial losses.
Market Considerations Leading to Route Cuts
Boston to Honolulu: Operational Challenges
Although the Honolulu–Boston route was a creative attempt to combine two important markets, the costs associated with servicing the segment dwarfed any potential gains. All attempts to create or stimulate demand fell short of expectations. The route was poorly supported, which highlighted the lack of suitable pricing, leading to the loss of consistent traffic on the route. This gap created significant operational challenges for the servicing of Hawaiian Airlines and many other airlines trying to cover the route. Eventually, Hawaiian was forced to abandon the route due to operational and financial constraints.
Fukuoka to Honolulu: The Travel Market Situation
The suspension of the Honolulu-Fukuoka route is yet another manifestation of Hawaiian’s wider issue with the Japan-Hawaii travel corridor. Post-COVID, travel demand has not returned to the levels experienced before the pandemic. Furthermore, the persistent weakness of the yen has made travel from Japan less appealing. Hawaiian still struggles to operate profitably on this route due to nonstop competition from other airlines, particularly those operating from the Tokyo airports.
Honolulu to Seoul: Intense Rivalry in the Asia-Pacific
Asiana Airlines, Korean Air, Air Premia, and other Asian airlines have provided fierce competition in the Honolulu–Seoul route. This competition has made it harder for Hawaiian Airlines to be profitable in this area.… Hawaiian Airlines has made the decision to change its Seoul–bound flights to Seattle. This is where the Alaska Air Group is looking to build a stronger Asia-Pacific hub.
Enhancing Connections for the U.S. Mainland and Region
Hawaiian Airlines is still focused on expanding to the U.S. mainland, Los Angeles, and Seattle. Along with other regions. Adding daily flights to these regions and solidifying its place in the Alaska Air Group network is very useful. This change allows Hawaiian Airlines to capture the most traveled to the U.S. and provide proper service to travelers going to the beautiful islands.
Moreover, Hawaiian Airlines is expanding its international services to Papeete and Sydney, which have steady market demand. Such routes continue to serve the tourist market, especially those seeking dependable links to the South Pacific and Australia. The airline’s focus on these established partnerships and leisure-centric routes supports the overarching goal of Alaska Air Group to restore profitability and expand the network.
Conclusion: Responding to Evolving Market Dynamics.
Hawaiian Airlines continues to adapt to evolving market realities after the cancellation of three international routes. The airline has strategically withdrawn from Boston, Fukuoka, and Seoul Incheon, which are lower demand markets and less financially viable, to focus on higher demand markets and routes with better long-term profitability. While some passengers will be disappointed with these routes being cut, the move highlights a reality all airlines have to face after the pandemic.
The upcoming expansion of Hawaiian Airlines to new markets on the U.S. mainland, along with the increase in intra-regional flights, will help the airline retain its competitive advantage. Hawaiian Airlines is strategically optimizing its network and fleet to prepare for the shifting dynamics of the airline industry. For the traveling public, the new changes will provide additional options and enhanced streamlined access to major hubs, helping airline management to focus on capturing profit and growth targets well into the future.
(Source: Hawaiian Airlines, Alaska Air Group, Cirium)
