Hawaiian Swapping 717s for 737s - What Do You Think?

So, Hawaiian Airlines is finally retiring their 717s and bringing in Alaska's 737-800s for those inter-island flights. Honestly, I'm not surprised. The 717s are getting pretty old, and with production stopping in 2006, it was bound to happen eventually. I think it's interesting that the switch isn't happening until 2028 though. Alaska Group is taking its time with this change.

They say the 737-800s will boost reliability and customer experience, and I can see that. With more first-class seats and free Starlink internet, that's a nice upgrade! Plus, they say these planes can handle the frequent flights and salty air better. Makes sense for Hawaii, right?

I wonder how many 737s they're actually planning to use for these flights, and how this will affect their operations overall. Also, what do you guys think about using Alaska's planes but keeping Hawaiian branding? Seems like a smart move to keep that local vibe.

Do you think this change will have a big impact on inter-island travel in Hawaii? And how do you feel about the 737s replacing the good old 717s?

I think the switch to 737-800s makes sense, especially with the added perks like first-class and Wi-Fi. But man, I'll miss the 717s! They were perfect for those short hops between islands. Wonder if the 737s will feel too big for some of those routes. Using Alaska's planes with Hawaiian branding is smart for sure. Keeps the local feel while improving the fleet. I do wonder how this'll change the schedule or ticket prices. Any thoughts on that?