SEATTLE — Alaska Airlines has repainted its fleet of former Hawaiian Airlines Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners in a new Aurora-inspired global livery, marking a visible milestone in the integration of the two carriers following their 2024 merger and underscoring the airline’s ambitions to expand its long-haul international network.
The Seattle-based airline said the aircraft — previously operated by Hawaiian Airlines — have been repainted and now operate under Alaska Airlines branding while continuing to fly from the carrier’s primary hub at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.
The newly branded widebody jets are already serving long-haul routes linking Seattle with major Asian hubs, including Tokyo Narita Airport and Seoul Incheon International Airport. Alaska Airlines plans to expand those services in 2026 with new flights to London Heathrow Airport and Rome Fiumicino Airport as it positions Seattle as its main gateway for intercontinental travel.
Alaska Rebrands Former Hawaiian 787s
Alaska Airlines has finished repainting all four Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners that originally entered service with Hawaiian Airlines.
The aircraft previously displayed Hawaiian’s distinctive purple and orange Pualani livery but now feature Alaska’s new Global livery created specifically for its expanding Dreamliner fleet.
The jets — registered N780HA, N781HA, N782HA and N783HA — underwent repainting at Fort Worth Meacham International Airport in Texas.
According to flight tracking data, the final aircraft, N783HA, returned to Alaska’s primary hub at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on March 11 before re-entering scheduled service two days later with a flight to Honolulu’s Daniel K. Inouye International Airport.
A fifth Boeing 787-9, registered N784HA, was delivered earlier in a temporary white paint scheme before receiving the Aurora Global livery. That aircraft entered the paint shop in December and joined Alaska’s fleet at Seattle in early January.
The design replaces Alaska’s traditional tail artwork with a deep blue and emerald green color palette inspired by the Aurora Borealis. The airline said each aircraft repaint required close to 1,000 labor hours and took about two weeks to complete, creating a reflective effect intended to evoke the northern lights.
Hawaiian 787 Interiors Remain Onboard
While the aircraft exteriors now carry Alaska branding, the cabin interiors remain largely unchanged from the original Hawaiian Airlines configuration.
Alaska Airlines has said it plans to retrofit the cabins in the future, although the company has not announced a timeline for those upgrades.
Each Boeing 787-9 can accommodate roughly 300 passengers across two classes. The business-class cabin features 34 Leihōkū Suites in a 1-2-1 configuration that provides direct aisle access for every passenger.
The suites include fully lie-flat seats, sliding privacy doors and 18-inch seatback entertainment screens.
Behind the premium cabin, the aircraft offers 266 economy seats built on the Collins Aerospace Aspire platform. Each seat is equipped with a 12-inch entertainment screen, and 79 of the seats are designated as Extra Comfort, offering additional legroom for passengers seeking more space.
Alaska Airlines Expands Dreamliner International Network
The Dreamliners currently operate on two long-haul Asian routes from Seattle, flying regularly to Seoul Incheon International Airport and Tokyo Narita International Airport.
Alaska Airlines plans to broaden its international footprint in 2026 with the launch of new service to London Heathrow Airport and Rome Fiumicino Airport. The additions are expected to strengthen Seattle’s role as the airline’s primary long-haul hub.
Looking further ahead, the carrier expects its international network from Seattle to grow significantly over the remainder of the decade. Alaska Airlines has said it aims to operate as many as 12 international destinations from the city by 2030 as additional Dreamliners join the fleet.
Future Boeing 787 Orders and Fleet Strategy
The airline has also expanded its aircraft order book to support its long-haul ambitions.
Earlier in 2026, Alaska Airlines ordered five additional Boeing 787 Dreamliners, increasing its total commitment to 17 aircraft.
Most of the future deliveries will be the larger Boeing 787-10 variant. Alaska has converted Hawaiian Airlines’ remaining 787-9 orders into the -10 model, which offers roughly 40 more seats than the 787-9 but has slightly less range.
The strategy signals Alaska Airlines’ intention to grow its global network with higher-capacity widebody aircraft based primarily in Seattle as it integrates Hawaiian Airlines into its operations and builds out a broader international route map.
