On April 22, 2026, the aviation industry said a final farewell to one of its most iconic identifiers. After nearly a century of operation, Hawaiian Airlines officially retired its “HA” flight code, transitioning all services to the “AS” code of its parent company, Alaska Air Group.
The shift marks a major milestone in the merger between the two carriers, signaling the deep integration of their reservation systems and operational structures.
Since its founding in 1929 as Inter-Island Airways, the “HA” prefix has represented more than just a logistical label. For generations of travelers and residents, those two letters have symbolized the gateway to the islands.
The transition was punctuated by the arrival of Flight 866, which landed at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport, marking one of the last times the “HA” callsign would be used in active passenger service.
The code survived the transition from propeller planes to the jet age, remaining a constant through 97 years of Hawaiian aviation history.
What Changes for Travelers?
While the two letters at the front of flight numbers are changing, the airline’s look and feel will remain the same.
- Flight Numbers: All flights are now booked and tracked under the “AS” prefix. For example, the popular route from Honolulu to Pago Pago has shifted from HA865 to AS865.
- Brand Identity: Alaska Air Group has committed to a dual-brand strategy. The iconic Pualani (Flower of the Sky) logo will remain on the aircraft tails, and the unique Hawaiian hospitality and crew culture will continue to operate independently of the Alaska Airlines brand.
- OneWorld Integration: The move to the “AS” code further cements Hawaiian Airlines’ place within the oneworld alliance, streamlining benefits for frequent flyers worldwide.
The retirement of the “HA” code is a technical necessity as the airlines move toward a Single Operating Certificate (SOC). While pilots had already begun using the “Alaska” callsign in communications with Air Traffic Control as early as October 2025, this final retirement of the ticket code represents the official closing of a legendary chapter.
Though the “HA” prefix is gone from the monitors, the spirit of the airline—and its deep roots in the islands—remains firmly in flight.
