From October 3, travellers hopping between Oahu and Maui may find themselves boarding an Alaska Airlines jet rather than the familiar Hawaiian Airlines Boeing 717. It's a visible sign of the blend happening since Alaska Air Group took over Hawaiian: the two brands stay separate, but the fleets and operations are increasingly shared.

The first route to get the Alaska-branded Boeing 737-800 is the busy Honolulu (HNL) to Kahului (OGG) corridor, where daily supplemental flights will run alongside Hawaiian's existing 717 service. The airline operates more than 140 flights a day between the islands, so an extra aircraft on the pair's two largest airports makes a real difference to capacity — and to cargo, which matters a lot in a state that moves goods between islands by air.

The 737s are effectively stopgap reinforcement while Hawaiian's ageing 717 fleet undergoes maintenance, ahead of a full retirement planned by 2028. The 737-800 carries 161 seats against the 717's 128, so each flight adds 33 seats. Alaska has 60 of the type in its 252-strong 737 fleet, and the aircraft is well suited to the short, high-frequency island hops. Better still for passengers, every one has onboard Wi-Fi, reclining Recaro leather seats, in-seat power and USB charging, extra premium seating, and the usual complimentary drinks and snacks (First Class gets a full beverage and snack service).

There's good news for locals too. Huaka'i by Hawaiian members — the programme for Hawaii residents — get two free checked bags, quarterly discounts for up to six companions, triple Atmos Rewards points at Foodland and monthly fare deals across the combined network.

Practical changes to note if you're flying interisland from October: check-in cut-off for bags moves to 50 minutes before departure across the neighbour island network. Maui-bound passengers keep checking bags at Terminal 1, Lobby 3 in Honolulu, but anyone departing to Honolulu on a 737 will use the Alaska counters next to Hawaiian's. International departures are being consolidated into Terminal 2, Lobby 4, so it's worth confirming your lobby before heading to the airport.

Why it matters for travellers: the interisland hop is a holiday in itself for many visitors, and newer planes with Wi-Fi and power outlets make the 40-minute flight to Maui noticeably more comfortable. Longer term, expect more modern aircraft across the Hawaiian network, new Seattle widebody routes under the Alaska banner, and a single frequent flyer programme — while the Hawaiian brand itself sticks around.