Hawaiian travel has been changed forever by the Boeing 757

If you’ve probably never thought of the Boeing 757, we’re airline enthusiasts, and we had none. But there are many things that make us realize and understand how important this plane played in the Hawaiian travel we know today. This is the reason.

757 opened direct routes to neighboring islands.

757, affectionately called the “flying lead”, was certified for ETOPS-180 in 1992. That’s the proof that allowed him to fly to Hawaii. Prior to that, flights to Hawaii were carried by 3-engine and 4-engine aircraft, followed by the larger twin-engine Boeing 767, which was first certified and began flying to Hawaii in 1989.

There were a number of problems with larger earlier aircraft such as the DC-10 (Hawaii) and L-1011 (Delta). With the exception of Maui, Hawaii’s neighboring islands were too large to operate successfully. So was the 767, which, as a side note, could even land and take off on the short runway at Lihue Kauai. But he cannot do this at full capacity.

The routes to Kauai and Kona are considered “thin routes” with less traffic demand compared to Hawaii’s two main airports in Honolulu and Kahului, Maui. A different type of aircraft was needed to serve not only the routes to the neighboring islands, but also the routes into the two Hawaiian airports.

Three airlines were flying the Hawaiian upside down.

The three companies are all legacies that, while still important, are not as three-dimensionally focused as Alaska, Hawaii, and the Southwest. The three are American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines. All three became operators of 757 fleets to Hawaii, and starting in the 1990s there was a renewed focus on direct flights past Honolulu. These airlines have embarked on previously unimaginable routes, including from far-flung destinations. Denver to Kauai and Denver to Kona are two routes operated by United Airlines, which still uses the 757 for them. Many other routes also made sense, such as the Delta flight from Seattle to Honolulu on the 757, which still flies today.

In quick order, the Boeing 757-200 became Hawaiian’s workhorse aircraft.

The plane resembles a stretched version of the Boeing 727, which first came to market in 1982. This aircraft has large, powerful engines and has always been highly regarded by pilots. Inside, there were now familiar 2×2 seats in first class and 3×3 in economy. United later outfitted the cabin with more comfortable Polaris business suites. Jeff used to fly back and forth to Kauai on a United 757, and reported that it was always a very uncomfortable plane for him, both in economy and in the first class cabins. But he got the job done.

The first class leather seats were weird because they were always sliding around in them. Economy was tight despite the Airbus A321neo fleet operated by American Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines. The original first class seats were 20 inches wide and 38 inches pitch, and economy seats were 17 inches wide and 31 to 36 inches pitch. When adding the UAL Economy Plus, there was 34 inches between rows, which helped. The 757 is typically configured for 200 passengers.

At one point, American Airlines had more of these planes than anyone else. However, in the year They have decided to release the 757-200 fleet in 2019, which was completed in early 2020. Delta and United still operate them today, though they are slated to retire in the near future. The end of an era indeed.

Read: Hawaii Has World’s Longest Overwater Flights (Without Transfer Points)

Move over 757. Arrival of the 737-800 and the Airbus A32x.

American has gone to fly mostly A321 aircraft on Hawaiian routes, except where they still fly widebody aircraft such as the Boeing 777.

Even Delta and United are phasing out these aging planes, and the end is not far off. It won’t be long until seeing one in Hawaii becomes rare.

ETOPS-180 is coming to the 737.

In the year In 1999, the NextGen Boeing 737 received ETOPS-180 certification. This means the 737 will be a low-cost replacement for all but the longest 757 routes to Hawaii. And the 737 cannibalized most of the 757 routes. However, keep in mind that the 757 can fly as far as 737 kilometers and up to 1,000 miles. But when looking at the most sought-after routes to the islands, keep in mind that a 737 can hit all targets within an hour from the west coast. It is noteworthy that the extended range 737MAX7 can have the same range as the 757.

The 737 is arguably the most successful airliner ever built, with nearly 5,000 aircraft produced. By comparison, only about 1,000 757 aircraft were built in two variants.

Hawaiian Airlines has banned direct flights to the island until the A321neo.

The Hawaiian surprisingly stayed with a model that didn’t allow for a straight and narrow route to fly to the neighboring islands. The fleet of DC-10s, to 767s, and later the A330, were not suitable for these routes. So for many years, Hawaiian allowed other airlines with these 757 and 737 fleets to take that business. And they did.

It goes to Alaska Airlines, then Southwest Airlines.

Alaska In 2007, it began flying 737s to Hawaii. Originally from their home in the Pacific Northwest, they spread rapidly, with limited competition. They soon began flying to markets in California where they grow. That model is similar to the one deployed by Southwest Airlines, which joined Hawaii’s party starting in 2019 with its 737-800 and 737MAX fleets.

Recognizing that there is no turning back for Hawaii visitors to fly directly to and from the island of their choice, Hawaiian Airlines purchased Airbus A321neo narrow-body aircraft that began arriving in 2018. You have successfully logged in for the first time. Originally opened by the Boeing 757, he competed on these popular and narrow Hawaiian routes.