Alaska Airlines unveils Boeing 787 premium long-haul experience repurposing Hawaiian’s Leihōkū Suites
April 1, 2026
Alaska Airlines has unveiled its first dedicated long-haul business class product as it expands into international markets with the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. The airline’s new International Business Class suites will debut this spring as Alaska launches nonstop services to Europe and Asia from Seattle.
While marketed as a new premium experience, the hard product will look familiar to passengers who previously flew Hawaiian Airlines’ Dreamliners. The cabins retain Hawaiian’s customised Leihōkū Suites, with Alaska refreshing the aesthetics and onboard service to reflect its brand identity.
A new long-haul chapter for Alaska Airlines
The new business class product marks a milestone in Alaska’s transformation into a global carrier following its acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines and its growing role in the oneworld alliance network. The airline says the suites will anchor its premium offering as it adds long-haul routes from Seattle.
“We set out to design a Business Class experience that is both sophisticated and authentically Alaska: premium, comfortable and thoughtfully created for our guests,” said Andrew Harrison, chief commercial officer at Alaska Airlines.
“When we debut our new product this spring, it will raise the bar and redefine long-haul travel, while continuing to deliver the remarkable care that sets Alaska apart on the global stage.”
But the “new” Alaska business class is built entirely on the cabin product that Hawaiian first introduced.
Hawaiian’s Boeing 787-9 Gets Redressed for Alaska
Hawaiian originally designed the Boeing 787 interior with Seattle-based TEAGUE Design to provide a distinctive cabin environment that reflected the nature and culture of the islands. The cabin’s decor used textures and lighting to evoke island sunrises and sunsets, with patterns depicting the flow of the ocean and winds.
A starlit ceiling referenced the constellations used by Polynesian voyagers on their journeys, and the carpet pattern recalled ocean waves. Wall panels were decorated to simulate native wood grain, and the lavatory floor was designed to resemble black volcanic sand. The airline also integrated Hawaiian language motifs in the design elements.
Alaska does not detail how much, if any, of that original cabin decor it has retained, though it is likely that the airline has invested in a redesign to refresh the aircraft. That would involve new carpet and seat dress covers, refinishing wall panels and removing Hawaiian’s carefully crafted brand storytelling from other decorative elements.
Hawaiian Airlines’ seat platforms remain unchanged on the Alaska Dreamliner
Although Alaska is positioning the cabins as new, the underlying business class seat platform remains unchanged, as introduced when the Boeing 787-9s were delivered to Hawaiian Airlines.
Hawaiian’s Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners originally had 34 Leihōkū Suites based on the Adient Aerospace Ascent platform, in a 1-2-1 configuration, featuring a sliding privacy door, with the two centre seats separated by a retractable screen which allowed couples to share the space.
According to aeroLOPA data, these seats are 21” wide and set at a 45” pitch. In-flight entertainment is displayed on an 18-inch HD screen, and power is available from 110V universal AC, USB-A sockets, and wireless charging.
Promotional imagery released with the announcement shows subtle design changes—for example, the decorative trim on the cocktail-table armrest now appears grey rather than the turquoise accent used in Hawaiian’s cabin design, but other suite elements, including storage compartments, the lamp and the suite shell, are unchanged.
From Hawaiian to Alaska: all seats onboard the Dreamliner retained
The underlying architecture and cabin layout remain the same on the aircraft in all classes, as confirmed by comparing aeroLOPA data for both airlines.
Hawaiian’s original 787 Main Cabin featured 266 Collins Aerospace Aspire 17.1″-wide seats configured 3-3-3, with a 31” pitch and 5” recline. Select seats in rows 15 to 24 (ABC/GHJ and 15 DEF) offered extra legroom with a pitch of 36”. Alaska is rebranding these extra-legroom seats as International Premium Class and offering passengers in this class complimentary alcoholic beverages and a Filson amenity kit.
Premium Class and Main Cabin seats are equipped with 12″ HD touchscreen in-flight entertainment displays, a shared 110V universal AC and individual USB-A and USB-C power outlets.
It’s not surprising that Alaska retained the former Hawaiian Airlines’ seats throughout. This equipment is expensive and the aircraft is relatively new, first launched into service in 2024.
Soft-product changes reflect Alaska branding and long-haul ambitions
According to Alaska, the new international business class experience includes several soft-product updates to match its competitors on long-haul flights, including:
- Premium dining centred on West Coast cuisine with international influences
- Lounge access and priority airport services for passengers
- Filson-designed bedding inspired by the Pacific Northwest
- Amenity kits featuring Salt & Stone skincare products
- Reusable Path Water bottles instead of single-use plastic
These soft elements will provide a passenger experience that reflects Alaska’s Pacific Northwest roots.
Starlink WiFi still coming soon
While Hawaiian Airlines was among the first to offer Starlink WiFi, it hadn’t completed the equipment of its Dreamliners to offer the service at the time of its acquisition.
Although Alaska Airlines has adopted Starlink connectivity, it isn’t available on these long-haul aircraft yet. However, the airline has announced plans to install the service by this fall. The airline’s Atmos Rewards loyalty members can access Starlink WiFi for free, sponsored by T‑Mobile.
Alaska’s 787 Dreamliners launch long-haul ambitions
The refurbished former Hawaiian, now Alaska Airlines’ Boeing 787-9 aircraft, sporting a new Alaska Airlines livery, will launch its first long-haul international routes, beginning with nonstop service from Seattle to Rome, starting April 28. The Dreamliner will also fly from Seattle to Seoul starting in April and Tokyo beginning this fall.
The airline will also launch international flights to London on May 21 and to Reykjavík, Iceland, on May 28. Alaska will operate Boeing 737 MAX 8s on service to Reykjavík’s Keflavík International Airport with what the airline describes as “an upgraded premium experience designed to bring comfort and care to the unique needs of that route.”
For Alaska, which has historically operated narrowbody aircraft on routes across North America, the long-haul Dreamliner represents a major shift, which has it competing directly with established global long-haul carriers.
The newly redressed business class suites, offering comfort on long-haul routes, position Alaska as a premium transpacific and transatlantic option while leveraging the cabin designs inherited through the Hawaiian Airlines acquisition.
Featured Image: Alaska Airlines
