Alaska Airlines has officially introduced its first Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, designated as N784HA, which was recently spotted departing from the paint shop at Fort Worth Meacham International Airport. The aircraft features the airline’s newly designed Aurora livery and took flight to Seattle on January 6, 2024, marking a significant milestone for the airline.
This aircraft, initially ordered by Hawaiian Airlines, was to be the airline’s fifth Boeing 787. Following Alaska Airlines’ acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines in 2025, the airline not only took over Hawaiian’s existing Boeing 787 orders but also plans to transition the operational 787s to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. Hawaiian Airlines will focus its long-haul operations on the Airbus A330-200.
First Flights and Future Plans
The Boeing 787-9, which is equipped with two General Electric GEnx engines and configured with 300 seats, will serve as a vital part of Alaska Airlines’ fleet. The aircraft is expected to be showcased at a press event at Boeing Field on January 7, 2024, before entering commercial service on January 8 with flights from Seattle to Tokyo-Narita. This route previously operated using Hawaiian’s Boeing 787-9 and will also serve as a connection to Seoul.
Alaska Airlines aims to expand its long-haul network significantly, planning to operate a series of international routes from Seattle, including future services to London-Heathrow and Rome. The introduction of the 787-9s will enhance Alaska’s competitive position against Delta Air Lines, particularly in the long-haul market.
Enhancements and Customer Experience
The Boeing 787-9s will feature interiors similar to those currently operated by Hawaiian Airlines, including a two-class configuration with business class suites and economy seats. Specifically, the aircraft will offer 34 business class suites based on the Elevate Ascent design and 266 economy seats utilizing the Collins Aspire model. Alaska Airlines has not yet introduced a premium economy cabin on either its own or Hawaiian’s aircraft, but plans are underway to retrofit Hawaiian’s A330-200 fleet by 2028, potentially extending premium economy features to the 787s as well.
While the Boeing 787-9s will not initially offer Wi-Fi, Alaska Airlines plans to equip its entire fleet with Starlink connectivity. This upgrade is expected to be complete by late 2026, providing passengers with one of the fastest internet services available in the airline industry.
N784HA is the first of a total of 12 new Boeing 787-9s that Alaska Airlines will receive, in addition to acquiring four 787-9s currently operated by Hawaiian Airlines. The airline has also ordered five Boeing 787-10s, marking it as the second U.S. carrier to do so. This expansion will bring the total number of Boeing 787s in Alaska’s fleet to 21, all based in Seattle.
The strategy behind Alaska Airlines’ acquisition of the Boeing 787s lies in enhancing its long-haul capacity to better compete with rivals like Delta Air Lines. With a growing fleet and an expanded international route network, Alaska Airlines is positioned to strengthen its market presence from Seattle, ensuring that it meets the increasing demand for long-haul travel.
