Flight Delayed or Cancelled at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL)?
Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) is Hawai'i's main gateway and the home base of Hawaiian Airlines, now part of Alaska Air Group. Long overwater flights mean a delay can push a trip back a full day.
Airlines and terminals
Hawaiian Airlines, now operated by Alaska and sold under the Alaska "AS" flight code since April 2026, carries the most HNL passengers. Alaska, United, Southwest, Delta, American, and many Asian and Pacific airlines also fly there.
HNL has Terminal 1 (mainly inter-island flights) and Terminal 2 (mainland and international flights).
Your options depend on the airline operating or selling your ticket. Airline guides: Alaska, United, Southwest, Delta.
Common causes of delays at HNL
- Storms and strong winds
- Tropical storms and hurricanes (Central Pacific season runs June 1 to November 30)
- Long flights with few daily rebooking options
Crew and many maintenance problems are generally within the airline's control; weather is not. See our weather delay guide.
The DOT refund rule
Flights at HNL are covered by the US DOT refund rule (14 CFR Part 260). When a flight is cancelled or significantly changed, and you choose not to fly it and don't accept rebooking or a credit, the rule requires the airline to refund the fare, taxes, and unused paid extras to your original form of payment, for any cause.
A significant change includes departing 3+ hours earlier or arriving 3+ hours later than scheduled on a domestic trip (6+ hours international), a different airport, extra connections, or a cabin downgrade. Refunds are due within 7 business days for credit cards and 20 calendar days for other payment types. Accepting the rebooked flight or a credit generally ends the refund right.
Meals, hotels, and rebooking
On the DOT Airline Customer Service Dashboard, large US airlines commit to free rebooking and a meal or meal voucher for 3+ hour waits when the disruption is within their control. All except Frontier also commit to a hotel and ride for overnight disruptions. Weather and air traffic control usually fall outside these commitments.
A local tip for HNL
Hawaiian flights now carry new Alaska flight numbers. A new flight number alone, with no significant schedule change, isn't treated as a cancellation under DOT's current enforcement policy.
What to do
- Screenshot every notice and reason the airline gives.
- Look at rebooking options in the app, then decide between rebooking and a refund.
- Ask for a meal voucher at the 3-hour mark if the cause is controllable.
- Keep receipts and boarding passes.
- Put your request in writing after the trip.
Related guides: Flight cancelled, Missed connection, How to request a refund in writing, All US airport guides. Not sure where to start? Check your flight.
FAQ
Which guide covers Hawaiian Airlines flights? Hawaiian is now operated by Alaska and sold under the Alaska code, though it still appears separately on the DOT dashboard. See our Alaska guide, and check your confirmation for the operating airline.
What if I already accepted a travel credit? Accepting a credit generally ends the refund right under the DOT rule. You can still ask the airline, but it may treat the credit as your choice.
Where can I complain if the airline doesn't respond? You can file a complaint with the US Department of Transportation. A clear written request with your records makes the next step easier.
Create your letter
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