AAirlines

Alaska Air Launches Premium Reserve Class and Unveils New Aurora and Leihōkū Suites

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Alaska Air Group has unveiled the largest investment in its history in the premium travel experience, launching two flagship brands for Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines, suites featuring privacy doors, and a brand-new premium economy cabin for long-haul flights.

This comprehensive transformation spans from ground handling and lounge operations at key hubs to a full interior redesign across both widebody and narrowbody fleets. The initiative introduces the Aurora Suites for Alaska Airlines, the Leihōkū Suites for Hawaiian Airlines, and a new intermediate cabin designated as Premium Reserve, establishing a four-class configuration set to debut starting in 2028.

Aurora Suites: The Evolution of Business Class at Alaska Airlines

Inspired by the Pacific Northwest and the carrier’s spirit of innovation, the Aurora experience redefines international business class and, for the first time in the airline’s history, will be deployed on select transcontinental flights aboard narrowbody aircraft.

  • Boeing 787 Widebody Fleet: All Dreamliners (787-9 and 787-10) will be retrofitted with 34 fully flat Aurora Suites, equipped with sliding privacy doors and direct aisle access. Under this reconfiguration, the premium seat density on the Boeing 787-9 will increase from the current 38% to approximately 46%.
  • Boeing 737-10 MAX Fleet: Beginning in 2028, at least 25 737-10 MAX aircraft will feature 12 Aurora Suites in First Class on transcontinental routes. These airframes will also showcase a dedicated Aurora livery inspired by the Northern Lights.

In-Flight Product Specifications and Amenities

Each Aurora Suite features:

  • Fully lie-flat bed seating with all-aisle access and functional personal stowage.
  • 19-inch 4K individual inflight entertainment (IFE) displays, Bluetooth connectivity, USB-C fast-charging ports, Qi wireless charging, and AC power outlets.
  • Premium upholstery trimmed in Ultraleather, engineered for enhanced softness and breathability.
  • High-speed inflight connectivity powered by Starlink, offered complimentary to Atmos Rewards members courtesy of T-Mobile.
  • An on-demand, à la carte dining program curated by acclaimed chefs.

→ Alaska Airlines Strengthens Its Seattle Hub with New Transatlantic Flights to Paris and Athens

Leihōkū Suites: Comprehensive Cabin Refurbishment on Hawaiian Airlines Airbus A330s

For Hawaiian Airlines, the premium experience is branded as Leihōkū (“lei of stars”), paying homage to traditional Polynesian celestial navigation. Commencing in 2028, the carrier will completely retrofit the passenger cabins of its 24 Airbus A330 aircraft, which operate long-haul sectors to Asia, Oceania, and select North American gateways.

  • 22 Upgraded Leihōkū Suites: Tailored for international business class and domestic first class, these suites feature lie-flat beds, privacy doors, and direct aisle access.
  • Higher Premium Density: The proportion of premium seating across the entire Airbus A330 cabin will increase from 30% to 40%.
  • Passenger Technology and Comfort: 19-inch 4K IFE screens with Bluetooth pairing, wireless charging docks, USB-C, universal AC power, hotel-quality bedding, and complimentary Starlink Wi-Fi for Atmos Rewards members.
  • Refreshed Mainline Cabin: The entire aircraft interior will undergo a full refurbishment, updating the inflight entertainment system with 4K seatback monitors and Bluetooth audio streaming across all rows.

Premium Reserve: New Long-Haul Premium Economy Class for 2028

To capture rising passenger demand for enhanced comfort and personal space on long-haul sectors, Alaska Air Group is rolling out Premium Reserve. Inventory will open for booking next summer, with initial commercial operations launching in 2028.

This product completes a four-tier cabin architecture: Aurora Suites / Leihōkū Suites, Premium Reserve, Premium Class, and Main Cabin.

Fleet Configuration Breakdown

  • Boeing 787-9 and Boeing 787-10: 35 seats.
  • Airbus A330: 28 seats.
  • Boeing 737-10 MAX: 12 seats.

Seat Hardware and Specifications

  • 38 inches (96.5 cm) of seat pitch with expanded width relative to traditional economy class.
  • Deep recline mechanics integrated with adjustable calf rests and leg rests.
  • 16-inch 4K OLED individual monitors featuring Bluetooth audio pairing.
  • Dedicated in-seat power solutions: multiple USB-C ports and AC outlets at every seat.
  • Generous bi-fold meal tables, convenient personal stowage compartments, refined cabin finishes, and an elevated culinary service.

Bespoke Culinary Partnerships and Regional Gastronomy

The onboard culinary strategy highlights the distinct cultural and regional provenance of both airline brands:

  • Alaska Airlines: Seattle-based chefs Renee Erickson and Brady Ishiwata Williams will helm the international galley program. Erickson will oversee menus for European routes (London Heathrow, Rome Fiumicino, and, beginning in Spring 2027, Athens and Paris Charles de Gaulle). Williams will lead transatlantic and transpacific dining out of the Seattle-Tacoma hub. Long-haul premium travelers will be greeted with an elevated welcome service featuring a charcuterie and artisan cheese board derived from the airline’s signature fruit-and-cheese platter, alongside a refreshed international wine program.
  • Hawaiian Airlines: Grounded in the carrier’s Mea Ho‘okipa (“I am your host”) service philosophy, Executive Chef Dell Valdez will continue to develop the culinary and beverage pairings for the Leihōkū Suites and First Class. Concurrently, the buy-on-board and pre-order meal initiative co-created with Chef Sheldon Simeon will continue across the Main Cabin on routes between Hawaii and the US mainland.

Ground Product Expansion: Next-Generation Airport Lounges

The premium passenger journey also involves substantial landside and airside lounge infrastructure investments across critical group hubs:

  • Seattle-Tacoma (SEA): Slated to open in late 2027, a flagship lounge complex spanning nearly 41,000 square feet (3,800 m²) will open in the newly expanded Concourse C, making it the largest lounge facility in Seattle and one of the largest in North America. It will house:
    • The Alaska Lounge: Accommodating up to 500 guests on the main floor.
    • The Aurora Lounge: A 200-seat dedicated private enclave reserved for intercontinental Aurora Suite guests, featuring private shower suites, wellness retreats, and a seated, fine-dining à la carte restaurant.
    • An open-air terrace with an outdoor fireplace, soundproof private work pods, three multi-level bar concepts, an artisanal pizza oven, and a specialty barista bar.
  • Honolulu: Scheduled to open in early 2028, a nearly 13,000-square-foot (1,200 m²) facility with capacity for 200 guests will welcome travelers at Terminal 1’s Mauka Concourse, accessible to Leihōkū Suite passengers under an elevated tier parallel to The Plumeria Lounge.
  • San Diego: A new 14,000-square-foot (1,300 m²) Alaska Lounge will open in 2028 to fortify the carrier’s West Coast terminal presence.

Through these concurrent investments in fleet architecture, modern cabin interiors, ground lounges, and the Atmos Rewards loyalty platform, Alaska Air Group is accelerating its overarching Alaska Accelerate corporate initiative, directly positioning its dual-carrier platform to compete aggressively in the global premium passenger market.

Un apasionado por la aviación, Fundador y CEO de Aviación al Día.

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