Alaska Airlines expects to beef up Hawaiian’s Airbus A321neo utilization

Alaska Air Group, the parent company of Alaska Airlines and newly acquired Hawaiian Airlines , is focused on improving its Airbus A321neo utilization this year.

As the two brands steadily inch toward obtaining a single operating certificate, executives shared some insight into managing the return to a joint Airbus and Boeing fleet.

It comes after Alaska phased out its own A321neo examples less than two years ago as it was eager to revive its famous self-acclaimed “all Boeing airline” reference.

However, as it joins forces with Hawaiian, the group will not likely be able to don the slogan again, at least for a long while.

The Seattle-based company hosted its fourth quarter and full-year 2024 earnings call on Thursday.

Despite experiencing a $200 million loss from the 737 MAX 9 debacle and subsequent delivery hurdles, the group reported record revenues of $11.7 billion, which exceeded expectations .

The $1.9 billion merger was unequivocally a contributing factor, essentially saving former Honolulu-based Hawaiian, which had been losing money and was desperate for a lifeline.

As the group’s financial focus now shifts to 2025, it expects a year-over-year capacity increase. With that, executives are analyzing fleet performance and how utilization can improve its profits even more.

Shane Tackett, Alaska’s Executive Vice President of Finance and Chief Financial Officer, explained that Hawaiian’s A321neo usage should ramp up this year as the company receives new Boeing aircraft and continues with its 737-900 retirements.

Hawaiian’s A321neos were among some of Airbus’ first planes in mass production, with deliveries beginning in 2017. The carrier has a total of 18 examples, with an average age of just over six years, according to ch-aviation.

While they have been a game changer in its transpacific and interisland network, Hawaiian has endured some hurdles with the aircraft.

Powered by Pratt & Whitney’s PW1100G engines, the jets were subject to mandatory inspections due to recalls, which forced the airline to alter its schedule and cancel flights between Maui and Las Vegas for a month in 2023 .

Flights between Maui and Oakland were also suspended during the Spring of last year as the airline cited “aircraft needs elsewhere.” However, it was believed that the carrier was still suffering from inspection-induced groundings.

With the Pratt & Whitney complications appearing to be surpassed, Alaska is poised to fly the aircraft more, complementing its forecast of revenue per available seat mile (RASM) totals beating out the cost per available seat mile (CASM).

However, the airline is also expecting a challenging next quarter.

“We have the lowest rate of growth in the year, probably in the second quarter, and the hardest comp because of our growth rate and performance last year on costs,” Tackett explained. “...We’re going to start to see the real benefit of synergy capture… of really starting to get utilization up on the A321 fleet, and benefit from the productivity that will sort of be able to drive from those two things…We do expect RASM to outperform CASM throughout the year, and we’re excited about how we can perform this year.”

It is not clear whether Alaska plans to increase Hawaiian’s A321neo utilization on its current interisland and transpacific routes, or introduce the aircraft to new destinations.

My previously reported that the company will replace the plane with Alaska’s 737s on its Maui-San Diego and Honolulu-Ontario routes later this year.

All 10 of Alaska’s formerly acquired Virgin America A321neos now fly with American Airlines . The swift retirement of the aircraft and Virgin’s other A319s and A320s underscored Alaska’s determination to no longer operate Airbus aircraft for its mainline operations

Additionally, they were the last recognizable artifacts of the beloved Virgin brand, as Alaska quickly erased all other elements.

Many feared the same would happen to Hawaiian, but the brands are clearly remaining separate for now. Unlike acquiring Virgin’s assets, Alaska seemingly has a different tone as it returns to owning Airbus aircraft, according to Tackett.

“We feel good about the fleet we acquired…We spent alot of time in due diligence on the Virgin acquisition…we spent multiples of that on this acquisition…”

Alaska’s CEO Ben Miniucci explained that becoming a joint Airbus and Boeing mainline fleet is not Alaska's first rodeo.

“Because we went through this before, with Virgin America, so we were experienced at what to look for,” he said. “There’s nothing coming at us. In fact, I would just say the opposite. It feels like it’s better than what we had thought.”

The airline currently has no Airbus aircraft on order, but is expecting a slew of future Boeing deliveries. Just this year, it plans to grow its 737 MAX fleet by 14 aircraft and receive three new 787-9 Dreamliners.