Hawaiian Airlines is cutting free in-flight meals on many services and replacing them with a pre-order menu that passengers can buy before flying. The new programme starts on 1 July and features dishes created by Maui-based chef Sheldon Simeon.
The airline said the menu will offer “elevated takes on local favorites and comfort foods”. It will begin with a curated selection of meals and expand in the autumn, while free snacks and other buy-on-board products will stay in place.
Meals will cost between $11 and $17. Passengers can order them through the Alaska-Hawaiian mobile app or website from two weeks before departure until 20 hours before take-off.
The move marks a shift away from a single standard meal towards a broader range of options, according to the airline. Hawaiian Airlines said it had begun working on the change before its integration with Alaska Airlines and had long planned to involve Simeon in the project.
“By moving to a pre-order model, we are expanding beyond a single standard meal to offer a broader menu that reflects how our guests want to dine today,” said Alisa Onishi, Managing Director of Marketing at Hawaiian Airlines.
Onishi said the airline would keep free snacks on board and maintain other buy-on-board products. The new meals will be prepared with fresh ingredients no more than 12 hours before each flight, according to the company.
The first menu includes crispy mochiko chicken with garlic noodles, barbecue teriyaki chicken bento, and corned beef hash with eggs. Hawaiian Airlines said new dishes would be announced through the year and items would be rotated.
The change comes as carriers across the sector continue to adjust what they offer in the air, balancing cost pressures with passenger demand for more choice. Pre-order catering has become more common on some short- and medium-haul routes, particularly where airlines want to reduce waste and better match supply with demand.
The Hawaiian Airlines’ new model also leans on its local identity. The use of a Hawaii-based chef and island-inspired dishes is designed to keep a regional link even as the airline broadens the way it serves food.
The announcement does not say whether the pre-order system will eventually replace all complimentary meal service across the airline’s network. It does, however, point to a clear change in direction for travellers who have long expected a free hot meal on board.
Passengers booking flights from 1 July will be among the first to see the new setup in action. The airline said the menu was designed to offer more variety while still keeping some complimentary onboard perks.
