EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW | Hawaiian Airlines is making tracks towards membership in the global oneworld Alliance. The carrier is now slated to become a oneworld member in 2026, as it continues its integration with existing oneworld member Alaska Airlines.

Joining oneworld brings with it a host of new benefits for Hawaiian Airlines. For one, this includes a strong web of new partners – including Qantas, a founding member of the alliance. Oneworld membership also unlocks a set of alliance-wide standards and benefits, such as streamlined and consistent frequent flyer recognition.

Qantas is expected to unleash points-based bookings on Hawaiian Airlines this year, separate to Hawaiian’s move towards the alliance. Then, provided Hawaiian Airlines completes its shift into oneworld, a further rollout of benefits can follow. This would include reciprocal lounge access with Qantas and other oneworld carriers, among other niceties.

To learn more, I catch up with representatives of Hawaiian Airlines from Sydney and Honolulu. They’re in town hosting a media lunch for members the Australian Society of Travel Writers (ASTW) – after which, I settle in for a chat with:

  • Marissa Villegas, Senior Specialist of External Communications at Hawaiian Airlines, and
  • Andrew Stanbury, Hawaiian Airlines’ Managing Director of International and North America Sales.

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Timeline for Hawaiian Airlines to join oneworld

We already know that Hawaiian Airlines plans to join oneworld in 2026. But whether Hawaiian would already be attached in a year – or whether we’re talking more of an 18-month project – is yet to be ironed out.

‘We will join,’ Villegas says proudly. But when it comes to specifics, ‘it is just a matter of time. We tend to be a bit conservative with the timeframe because it’s just the nature of industry.’

I take a moment to ask whether Hawaiian would be a standalone member of oneworld, or an affiliate of Alaska Airlines. For instance, in the same way that QantasLink is attached to oneworld under the parent membership of Qantas itself.

‘I think we have to be joined under a single operating certificate (with Alaska Airlines),’ Stanbury says. ‘So this is not an application process in which Hawaiian goes in under its own steam. This is to do with the combining of the airline under a single operating certificate that then paves the way for the new mission.’

Hawaiian Airlines shares its plans for joining oneworld
Andrew Stanbury shares Hawaiian Airlines’ broad timeline for oneworld membership at the recent ASTW lunch. [Photo by Chris Chamberlin]

As to whether Hawaiian would be a standalone oneworld member or entirely under the umbrella of Alaska Airlines, that’s ‘probably among the questions that are still being ironed out,’ adds Villegas.

Hawaiian Airlines’ upcoming Qantas partnership

We already know that travellers can begin booking Hawaiian Airlines flights using Qantas Points from later this year. But is Hawaiian Airlines planning for a broader rollout of benefits for Qantas flyers before oneworld membership comes into play?

‘I think it’s an unusual point in time,’ Stanbury says firstly of the current situation. He’s reflecting on Hawaiian beginning its Qantas tie-up before joining the alliance itself. Because ‘here we go about with this loyalty redemption program. But not far into the future, you have a much deeper and wider relationship with oneworld.’

As for whether Hawaiian and Qantas will also unleash reciprocal frequent flyer benefits before oneworld, the Hawaiian sales boss is clear. ‘There’s little appetite to be introducing things that would need to be redone under oneworld.’ That is to say, oneworld brings with it a standardised set of frequent flyer benefits, underpinned by IT processes to make the travel experience more seamless.

But speaking of IT, Hawaiian has more on its plate than basic integration with oneworld. Recently, ‘Hawaiian moved to Amadeus from Sabre,’ Stanbury shares. He’s referring to the Global Distribution System (GDS) that facilitates the airline’s ticket sales. ‘Alaska was on Sabre, and the decision has been (made) that we will migrate together under one (system).’ That system is Sabre.

This means Hawaiian has to change its underlying IT systems all over again (yikes!). As far as IT changes go, switching from one GDS to another is one of the biggest headaches an airline can face. Clearly, a merger with Alaska Airlines wasn’t on the cards when that decision was made. But once Hawaiian and Alaska are on the same system, it’ll be smoother sailing ahead.

Also read: Qantas to add Hawaiian Airlines as redemption partner

Featured image courtesy of Hawaiian Airlines. Chris Chamberlin is a member, director and treasurer of the Australian Society of Travel Writers.


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Hawaiian Airlines edges closer to joining oneworld was last modified: February 19th, 2025 by Chris Chamberlin