Summary
The Boeing 717 has long been the workhorse of Hawaiian Airlines’ inter-island network. These short-haul twinjets are optimized for quick turnarounds and high frequency, serving as the backbone of travel between Hawaii’s islands.
As one of only two airlines still flying the Boeing 717, we take a look at the route network and fleet used by Hawaiian Airlines.
Current Routes Operated by the Hawaiian Boeing 717
Hawaiian Airlines Boeing 717. Photo (c) Colin Wells
Hawaiian Airlines exclusively uses the Boeing 717 for flights between its core islands, operating five key city-pair routes:
- Honolulu (HNL) – Kahului, Maui (OGG)
- Honolulu – Lihue, Kauai (LIH)
- Honolulu – Kona, Big Island (KOA)
- Honolulu – Hilo, Big Island (ITO)
- Kahului – Hilo (as part of intra-island scheduling)
That’s 5 dedicated inter-island routes, amounting to over 160 daily aircraft movements on the 717 fleet
Hawaiian Boeing 717 Spotting Highlights
- Most frequent: Honolulu–Kahului — the busiest connection with nearly 700 annual 717 flights
- Shortest: Kahului–Hilo, clocking in at under 200 km and just ~35 minutes airborne.
- Longest: Honolulu–Lihue (~200 NM / 370 km), roughly 40 minutes.
- Ground operations: Rapid turnarounds at HNL allow same-aircraft redeployments across multiple island hops each day.
Boeing 717 Fleet Overview & Cabin
Simply Aviation, CC BY 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
- Fleet size: 19 Boeing 717‑200s in active service as of mid‑2025.
- Configuration: Standard two-class layout:
- 8 Business Class seats (2‑2), 37″ pitch and 18.5″ width.
- 120 Economy seats (2‑3), 29–31″ pitch and 18″ width.
- Total: 128 seats.
- Extra Comfort: Select rows (like exit or front) offer additional legroom and priority boarding.
These jets are fitted with slimline seating and tablet trays, optimized for short inter-island hops.
Current Fleet
At the time of writing, Hawaiian Airlines’ Boeing 717 fleet comprises the following aircraft:
- N475HA (55121)
- N476HA (55118)
- N477HA (55122)
- N478HA (55123)
- N479HA (55124)
- N480HA (55125)
- N483HA (55128)
- N484HA (55129)
- N485HA (55130)
- N486HA (55131)
- N487HA (55132)
- N488HA (55001)
- N489HA (55002)
- N490HA (55151)
- N491HA (55175)
- N492HA (55181)
- N493HA (55184)
- N494HA (55182)
- N495HA (55185)
Future Outlook
Though aging, Hawaiian’s 717s remain central to the airline’s strategy:
- FAA inspections: Following a 2024 airworthiness directive on 717 wings, Hawaiian crews confirmed the type remains. airworthy, and CEO Peter Ingram has stated that the 717 “still has enough life left”.
- Replacement plans: No firm replacement designated yet. Newer ATR turboprops (ʻOhana by Hawaiian) were retired in 2021 in favor of 717s and A321neos.
- Longevity: With an average fleet age of nearly 23 years, regular upgrades, inspections, and cabin refurbishments (e.g., slimline seats) have kept the 717 fleet reliable.
Hawaiian Airlines operates 19 Boeing 717‑200s, exclusively on five inter-island routes (Honolulu, Maui, Kauai, and both Big Island airports). With a two-class 128‑seat configuration, these aircraft are vital to delivering fast, frequent services between the islands. Despite the fleet’s age, continued investment, safety oversight, and CEO assurances signal that the 717 will remain a staple of Hawaiian skies for several more years.
