Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines are switching up terminals at some of the nation’s largest hubs, getting closer to one another — and to other airlines in the Oneworld alliance — in the process, following their merger last year.
Hawaiian on Tuesday launched service from Terminal 8 at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), completing its transition from JFK Terminal 4.
Alaska will make the move to Terminal 8 by October, the Seattle-based carrier said Tuesday.
These JFK moves will give the airlines and their customers close proximity to major Oneworld airlines that operate out of Terminal 8, most notably American Airlines and British Airways.
Alaska is a Oneworld member. Hawaiian, after being acquired by Alaska’s parent company in 2024, is on track to become a full-fledged alliance member by 2026.
It’s not just JFK.
Hawaiian Airlines new terminal at LAX
Hawaiian also made a terminal switch Tuesday at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). Instead of flying primarily out of the airport’s Tom Bradley International Terminal, the carrier will house its LAX operations at Terminal 6, alongside Alaska.
The move will bring Hawaiian’s passengers closer to the gates used by Alaska, and give flyers easier access to the terminal’s Alaska Lounge. Last year, as part of the two brands joining forces, Hawaiian customers gained new lounge privileges at Alaska-branded outposts.
Hawaiian operates LAX service to several Aloha State destinations, from Honolulu to Maui, Kaua’I and Kona.
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Though Alaska and Hawaiian technically remain two separate airline brands, the carriers share a behind-the-scenes operation, which means a close-knit operation at LAX — and other airports — is a key move for operating efficiently and offering passengers smoother connections between the two airlines.
Making moves at other major airports
Hawaiian similarly relocated its San Francisco International Airport (SFO) gates alongside Alaska last fall in the newly-renovated Harvey Milk Terminal 1, and is also now operating in close proximity to its sister airline at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX).
The carriers are planning to similarly join forces in Sacramento, Salt Lake City and Las Vegas by the end of this year.
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Joint JFK T8 operation
As for JFK, a new terminal for Hawaiian (and eventually Alaska) should offer travelers more than just seamless connections onto Oneworld partners — from Iberia to Japan Airlines and Finnair.
Those customers will gain access to Oneworld lounge facilities in the terminal.
Alaska and Hawaiian first-class passengers flying on trips longer than 2,000 miles from JFK will get American Airlines Admirals Club access.
Passengers flying over 2,000 miles in a premium cabin that sports a lie-flat product will get access to the Greenwich Lounge that American jointly operates with British Airways.
While it’s not the highest-end JFK Terminal 8 facility (a notch below American and British Airways’ Chelsea and Soho outposts) it offers improved amenities over American’s traditional clubs.
The Greenwich Lounge, we should note, is also accessible to long-haul passengers with Oneworld Emerald status flying on any ticket type. For Alaska Mileage Plan elites, that translates to MVP Gold 75K and MVP Gold 100K status.
Bottom line
These terminal shifts come as Alaska and Hawaiian continue to deepen their ties. The two carriers are planning to unveil a single, joint loyalty program in the coming months, having already launched reciprocal benefits in the meantime for Hawaiian Miles and Alaska Mileage Plan members.
And, next month, the carrier will christen Seattle Tacoma International Airport (SEA), Alaska’s home base, as a new global hub for the two brands with Hawaiian-operated service to Tokyo’s Narita Airport (NRT).
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