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Constance von Muehlen becomes COO at Alaska Airlines

Breaking barriers is nothing new for Constance von Muehlen, our newly appointed chief operating officer. At age seven, she had her eyes set on becoming a helicopter pilot. Years later, she served as an officer  in the United States Army and became a Black Hawk helicopter pilot. On April 3, 2021, she will make Alaska Airlines history by becoming the first female COO. Today, 40% of Alaska’s executive leadership team are women.

“I think women often limit themselves in imagining where we can contribute and end up, and I’m certainly an example of that. I am grateful that people, perhaps more perceptive than myself, have seen my skills in action and said I would be good at this and provided me that opportunity,” says von Muehlen.

Most recently, von Muehlen was Alaska’s senior vice president of our maintenance and engineering division. She led all safety, compliance and operational performance of our airline’s mainline Boeing and Airbus fleet. This is not the first COO position she has held within Alaska Air Group. From 2018 to 2019, von Muehlen also served as COO at Horizon Air, our regional airline.

“I’ve managed a lot of complexity in my career while finding ways to simplify, as well as anticipating our business’s demands and will continue to do so as COO. The most fundamental thing I’ve learned as a leader is taking the team we have and unlocking each individual’s potential to be the very best contributor they can be. When we do that and come together, we’re unstoppable,” she said.

With 30 years of aviation experience, von Muehlen brings a strong foundation of safety and operational excellence to the COO role. We sat down with her to discuss this appointment’s significance, her leadership style, and who inspires her (hint — it’s all of our guests and employees). Check the Q&A below.

Q&A

You will be named the first female COO at Alaska, as we celebrate Women’s History Month, what does that mean to you and the women in the industry and beyond?

Constance: “It is super humbling to me. My desire to represent women well is that much higher given the role I’ll serve because I want to make sure there is no doubt in anybody’s mind that all women are capable of this type of work and performance. I’m also excited to bring a different perspective to the role and a new approach than what we’ve seen before. It will be my approach, which is formed and shaped by the fact that I am a woman and have spent 30 years in the traditionally male-dominated aviation industry.”

Tell us about your first 90-120 days, what is your main focus?

Constance: “First and foremost—our people. Whether it be the front line or our guests, I want to understand more granularly what their struggles are and what our team is going through to deliver in their everyday work and to our guests, and how guests perceive us in delivering our service. Longer-term, I’ll focus on strategic opportunities and how to perform at ever-increasing levels despite all of the changes around us.”

Who has inspired you most throughout your career?

Constance: “My parents. In the 1950s, my mom ran her own business, which was inspiring considering the culture back then. I’ve worked with incredibly inspiring people, whether it’s been at Alaska or in the Army, and what inspires me is to support those great people as well as I can. That’s what drives me—the desire to enable every person I work with to unlock their potential.

… So, it isn’t necessarily a person, but it’s everyone, in the sense that we all deserve to have that kind of fulfillment at work. The question is, how do we do that across all these teams, processes and demands while we meet and exceed our guests’ expectations? My inspiration is doing the very best we can as a team and everyone contributing to meet a common goal.”

You’ve accomplished many groundbreaking things in your career, what propels you forward and how do you inspire other women to be trailblazers?

Constance: “I would hope someday it’s less of a ‘pioneering type’ conversation, that it’s not a path unusually followed by women but regularly followed by women. Since I was seven years old, I wanted to fly helicopters. The bug bit me —that was it, and I went from there. I never envisioned in my wildest dreams I would end up in a COO role.”

Alaska has had great COOs, how will you build on their legacy and position the company to be even better, especially when COVID is behind us?

Constance: “Fantastic question. I don’t have the answer yet. Part of it is unlocking everyone’s potential at Alaska to meet and exceed our guests’ expectations. The shortest answer I can give is, I’m only as good as my work tomorrow. I prefer to come back in a year or two and say, ‘did I or did I not do that?’ I intend to do everything we set out to do, and a big part of that success is how we can achieve that as one team.”

Related:

Black employees and allies are driving meaningful change for a more equitable future at Alaska where everyone belongs

Cultivating a culture of belonging and connection is a prime focus at Alaska Airlines. Whether it’s safely connecting people across the world or within our company through employee-led Business Resource Groups (BRGs), we are committed to creating an equitable workplace for all.

BRGs offer a haven for employees to champion the diverse workforce we have within our wings while engaging, educating and uplifting us as a whole, making our business, culture and communities better. Groups dedicate their free time to share similar interests, give back to communities and provide professional development and support. They also help inform important business decisions where relevant and deliver on our goals.

ABEA leaders and members outside at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport in February, 2021.

Air Group Black Employees, Allies and Advocates, or ABEA, is a space for Black employees—and all people of Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air, our regional airline—to be themselves, lead and thrive and educate others on critical issues that can drive diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging.

DeMarco Best, one of the founding members of ABEA and duty manager of simulator operations in Seattle, says in the 25 years he’s been with the company, Alaska has made enormous strides when it comes to diversity, equity and inclusion. However, he admits, there’s still a lot of work needed to advance racial equity within our organization and the airline industry as a whole.

“My philosophy is: you shouldn’t complain about what is wrong in the world if you aren’t doing something to make it better. I love Alaska because I have been given an opportunity to represent and engage with our community, both locally and nationwide. As an active member of ABEA, I’ve volunteered with our recruitment team during job fairs to demonstrate an inclusive culture, and traveled to Washington DC to help the company lobby for equity and inclusion,” said DeMarco Best. (Photo from before March 2020).

Recently Air Group announced its commitment to advance racial equity with goals for representation, inclusive culture and public leadership.

“People ask, ‘what does success look like?’ It’s so hard to quantify success when you know this is a journey we’re always going to be on,” said Best. “If we can get to a place of mutual understanding that we need to move beyond just tolerating each other and see the goodness our differences make, this company will be successful—in so many ways we’re better because we’re different.”

“There’s no shame in where we are. We are trying to take this on, and it’s going to be hard, that’s all there is to it, but at least we’re navigating it. We’re taking our time and trying to do things that are going to last,” said John-Antony Dubreuil, ABEA leader and ITS senior test manager.

Holding space for hard conversations.

Black employees have been navigating systemic racism their entire lives and, in the past year, the disproportionate effects of COVID-19. Immediately following the tragic death of George Floyd, ABEA organized listening sessions for employees and leaders to come together across the company—prioritizing recovery and resilience, both from an organizational and personal perspective.

“There was so much energy from our employees and allies to take action and do more, so we harnessed that as an opportunity to have open and critical dialogue with peers and leaders to listen to understand and respond in a meaningful way,” said Sarah Keimig, ABEA leader and Seattle lounge manager.

Seattle Lead Customer Service Agent Cinamin Wise, ABEA Leader & Seattle Lounge Manager Sarah Keimig, Phoenix Reservation Sales Agent Shari Fauntleroy (right).

From these sessions came a lot of hard conversations, incredible moments and realizations.

“Just in the past year, we have learned so much together and created more resounding change, so employees feel empowered, supported, and heard,” Keimig said. “We will continue being the driving force and voice among our leaders when we say that this is what our people need right now.”

ABEA leaders continue to encourage Black employees to rest, recover and create space for long-term care and positive affirmation of Black identity. (Photo of ABEA leaders and allies in February 2021).

Today, about 10% of Alaska and Horizon employees belong to one or more of our BRGs, which include Air Group Black Employees, Allies and Advocates, Accessibility Group, Air Group Pan-Asian, AAG Military Group, GLOBE (Alaska’s LGBTQ+ Group), Green Team, Latin Culture Resource Group, Native Employee Network Group, Pacific Islander Alliance, Women’s Interactive Networking Group, AAG Women in Tech. Our goal is to continue to increase the membership of our BRGs as a way to drive connection, foster inclusion and support employees.

Reuniting American Samoa Families, One Repatriation Flight at a Time

For the people of American Samoa, the arrival of our Hawaiian Airlines charter flight at Pago Pago International Airport (PPG) on Jan. 13 brought much more than just the return of our service in nearly a year. More importantly, the landing of our Airbus A330 at PPG marked a long-awaited homecoming for the first of thousands of residents who have been stranded away from home in Hawaiʻi, the U.S. mainland and beyond since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

At the request of the American Samoa government, a year ago this month we suspended our Honolulu-PPG flights – the only regularly scheduled air link connecting the U.S. territory and Hawai'i – as officials closed the South Pacific islands’ borders to safeguard its communities from the COVID-19 virus.  

While our commercial flights remain on hold, we are partnering with the American Samoa government to operate a series of repatriation flights.  

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Returning residents deplaning our second repatriation flight, which landed at PPG on March 10.

 

“We [Hawaiian Airlines] were the obvious choice for the job, and the government was quick to contact us right away,” said Tuli Fruean, who was born and raised in the main island of Tutuila and leads Hawaiian’s local operations as general manager of our PPG station. “We were very fortunate to be part of the conversation from the very beginning.” 

In January, Fruean was appointed to a special, multi-agency task force, created by the American Samoa governor, to repatriate nearly 2,000 stranded residents. The effort by the State of Hawaiʻi, American Samoa’s Department of Health, Department of Homeland Security and Department of Port Administration, and Hawaiian Airlines ensures all flights will operate safely and follow Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance. Each flight requires up to a month of planning, Fruean shared, and passengers must complete an extensive pre- and post-travel testing and quarantine process to be cleared by the government and reunited with their families.  

“We welcomed about 160 guests on our first repatriation flight, and because of the rigorous testing and quarantine requirements put in place by the task force, all of them were able to be screened, cleared and released into the public,” Fruean shared. “On our second flight, which arrived last week, we transported 188 guests who are currently completing their post-arrival quarantine requirements.” 

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PPG station staff converse in their full PPE after returning residents deplaned the aircraft and were shuttled to their quarantine hotel.

 

Fruean has focused on ensuring his staff remain protected and equipped with personal protective equipment (PPE) required by American Samoa’s Department of Health. However, the island’s hot weather and high humidity proved to become his team’s biggest challenge during the first repatriation flight.  

“All of us had to wear full PPE suits on that first flight. I remember it was a very hot and humid day (high 80s with 100 percent humidity), making our jobs difficult,” Fruean recalled. “The full PPE suits also limited our movements because if there was any comprise in the suits, such as a rip, we were subject to a 14-day quarantine. So, we all had to move very slowly and carefully.” 

Following the first flight, the Health Department agreed to ease PPE requirements, mandating full suits only for guest-facing staff. Employees not interacting with guests must still wear masks, gloves and face shields.  

“I was also able to have more guest-facing staff on standby in case we needed to rotate them and give them a break. The new PPE policies were extremely helpful for my team working the second repatriation flight,” Fruean said. “Despite heavy rains and winds, we were able to process all arriving guests while keeping one another protected and feeling supported throughout the process.”  

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Heavy wind and rains brought new challenges for the PPG station staff who operated the second repatriation flight.

 

Fruean anticipates we will operate up to two repatriation flights monthly over several months to keep up with the growing list of residents seeking repatriation assistance. 

“In the end, it is an incredibly satisfying effort that requires the work of many hands, from the governor of American Samoa to our baggage handlers,” Fruean reflected. “My team's motivation is knowing that members of our community are finally returning home to their families after being separated for 12 months. We know that the people coming off our planes could be one of our family members, and that has been an extremely unifying and exciting feeling for all of us.” 

Alaska Airlines stands against hate with the Asian American Pacific Islander community

In the year since COVID-19 impacted the United States, there has been an alarming rise in violence against the Asian American Pacific Islander community. We are appalled and heartbroken to see these attacks and harassment continue to grow.

Our Asian American Pacific Islander guests and employees are living in fear and experiencing great pain from these racist acts and rhetoric. We stand with our Alaska and Horizon employees and guests in denouncing this behavior and are actively working to ensure Alaska is a place where everyone feels safe and welcome.

We have taken actions to ensure our people feel supported, including creating safe places to be heard and offering Anti-Racism, Bystander Intervention and Unconscious Bias training for our teams. We have a zero-tolerance policy that is strictly enforced for any type of racist behavior or activity. We also recently shared our new diversity, equity and inclusion goals which include a commitment to making Alaska an inclusive culture as well as using our public platforms to advance racial equity progress.

At Alaska, we are driven by our values of being kind-hearted and doing the right thing. We will lead with those values and continue to always embrace and care for our Asian and Pacific Islander guests and colleagues.

Hawaiian Airlines Launches Ontario-Honolulu Service

HONOLULU – Hawaiian Airlines today inaugurated five-times-weekly nonstop service to Honolulu (HNL) from Ontario (ONT), giving Inland Empire travelers a convenient way to experience the carrier’s award-winning hospitality on their way to a Hawai‘i vacation. Hawaiian’s Ontario-Honolulu service – which will be offered daily starting May 24 to meet summer demand – expands options for Greater Los Angeles residents who have enjoyed the airline’s nonstop flights to the Hawaiian Islands from Los Angeles (LAX) and Long Beach (LGB).

“Southern Californians’ love for Hawai‘i and their preference to fly Hawaiian Airlines have allowed us to keep growing our popular service throughout the region,” said Peter Ingram, president and CEO of Hawaiian Airlines, noting that Los Angeles became the carrier’s first U.S. mainland gateway in 1985. “We are excited to bring our service to Ontario airport and looking forward to sharing our award-winning Hawaiian hospitality with more guests from the Inland Empire.”

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The Hawaiian Airlines Serenaders performed for guests at Ontario International Airport

 

Guests boarding Hawaiians’ inaugural flight to Honolulu received flower lei and were treated to Hawaiian music and dance. Flight HA73 departs Ontario at 9:05 a.m. on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, with a 12:20 p.m. scheduled arrival time in Honolulu, giving guests ample time to settle into their accommodations and begin exploring O‘ahu or to connect to any of Hawaiian’s four Neighbor Island destinations. The flight from Honolulu to Ontario, HA74, departs at 1:05 p.m. and arrives at 9:35 p.m. on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

“We are thrilled to see this day arrive and to welcome Hawaiian Airlines to all that Ontario International Airport has to offer, as Southern California’s fastest-growing and most convenient aviation gateway. Hawai‘i has always been one of the most requested destinations we hear from our passengers, so we are confident that this will be an extremely popular route,” said Mark Thorpe, CEO of the Ontario International Airport Authority.

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Jeff Helfrick, vice president of airport operations at Hawaiian Airlines and Keoni Martin participate in a blessing of HA73

 

Hawaiian, the nation’s most punctual airline for 17 straight years, will service the ONT-HNL route with its modern Airbus A321neos, a quiet and fuel-efficient aircraft with 16 luxurious leather recliners in First Class, 44 Extra Comfort seats and 129 Main Cabin seats. Inside, guests will enjoy Hawaiian’s award-winning hospitality, including complimentary island-inspired meals by Hawai‘i’s top chefs and streaming in-flight entertainment.

Hawaiian has simplified the experience for guests to meet the state of Hawai‘i’s pre-travel testing requirements and be exempt from quarantine upon arrival with a list of state of Hawai’i approved testing providers in Ontario. Guests who obtain a negative test will receive a pre-clear wristband during boarding that allows them to bypass airport screening in Hawai‘i.

About Hawaiian Airlines

Hawaiian® has led all U.S. carriers in on-time performance for each of the past 17 years (2004-2020) as reported by the U.S. Department of Transportation. Consumer surveys by Condé Nast Traveler, Travel + Leisure and TripAdvisor have placed Hawaiian among the top of all domestic airlines serving Hawai‘i.

Now in its 92nd year of continuous service, Hawaiian is Hawai‘i's biggest and longest-serving airline. Hawaiian offers nonstop flights within the Hawaiian Islands, between Hawai‘i and more U.S. gateway cities (16) than any other airline, as well as service connecting the islands with Japan and South Korea. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, Hawaiian has temporarily suspended service in Australia, New Zealand, American Samoa and Tahiti.

The airline is committed to the health and safety of its guests and employees and has reinforced enhanced cleaning procedures across its business. While the experience may be a little different, the authentic Hawaiian hospitality remains unchanged. Additional details on how Hawaiian is keeping guests and employees safe can be found at HawaiianAirlines.com/KeepingYouSafe.

Hawaiian Airlines, Inc. is a subsidiary of Hawaiian Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: HA). Additional information is available at HawaiianAirlines.com. Follow Hawaiian’s Twitter updates (@HawaiianAir), become a fan on Facebook  (Hawaiian Airlines), and follow us on Instagram (hawaiianairlines). For career postings and updates, follow Hawaiian’s LinkedIn page.

For media inquiries, please visit Hawaiian Airlines’ online newsroom.

Hawaiian Airlines Expands Pre-Clear Program to Japan, South Korea

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HONOLULU – Hawaiian Airlines is expanding its pre-clearance program to Japan and South Korea, making it more convenient for international travelers to visit and safely enjoy Hawai‘i.

Hawaiian became the first airline flying between Japan and Hawai‘i to offer its Pre-Clear Program when it launched the service at Narita International Airport (NRT) over the weekend. The program, which will expand to Kansai International Airport (KIX) on Thursday, allows guests who meet Hawai‘i’s pre-travel testing requirements to bypass the state’s 10-day quarantine and additional airport screening in Honolulu by having their documents verified before boarding.

Pre-Clear starts Friday at Incheon International Airport (ICN) at an opportune time: Hawaiian recently added a second weekly flight between Honolulu (HNL) and ICN to meet increased demand.

“Expanding our Pre-Clear Program to Japan and South Korea simplifies the travel experience for our international guests so they can spend less time at the airport and more time vacationing or doing business in Hawai‘i,” said Theo Panagiotoulias, senior vice president for global sales and alliances at Hawaiian Airlines. “We look forward to working with the State of Hawai‘i to expand the program to more markets, and to continue building back travel to Hawai‘i in a way that is safe for visitors and our community.”

Hawaiian’s guests from Japan and South Korea who participate in the Pre-Clear Program will receive a Pre-Clear wristband from a Hawaiian Airlines guest service agent who will verify their documents prior to boarding. To qualify for pre-clearance, guests must complete the following steps:

  • Create a Safe Travels account for every adult on the itinerary.
  • Add all flight and lodging information to the account.
  • Complete the mandatory health questionnaire within the account.
  • Upload a negative test result (PDF format) from a state-approved testing partner to the Safe Travels account. Carrying a printed copy of the negative test results is also recommended.

Travelers whose negative COVID-19 test results are not uploaded to the Safe Travels app prior to departure will be required to sign the state of Hawai‘i’s 10-day self-quarantine agreement upon arriving in the state.

About Hawaiian Airlines

Hawaiian® has led all U.S. carriers in on-time performance for each of the past 17 years (2004-2020) as reported by the U.S. Department of Transportation. Consumer surveys by Condé Nast Traveler, Travel + Leisure and TripAdvisor have placed Hawaiian among the top of all domestic airlines serving Hawai‘i.

Now in its 92nd year of continuous service, Hawaiian is Hawai‘i's biggest and longest-serving airline. Hawaiian offers nonstop flights within the Hawaiian Islands, between Hawai‘i and more U.S. gateway cities (16) than any other airline, as well as service connecting the islands with Japan and South Korea. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, Hawaiian has temporarily suspended service in Australia, New Zealand, American Samoa and Tahiti.

The airline is committed to the health and safety of its guests and employees and has reinforced enhanced cleaning procedures across its business. While the experience may be a little different, the authentic Hawaiian hospitality remains unchanged. Additional details on how Hawaiian is keeping guests and employees safe can be found at HawaiianAirlines.com/KeepingYouSafe.

Hawaiian Airlines, Inc. is a subsidiary of Hawaiian Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: HA). Additional information is available at HawaiianAirlines.com. Follow Hawaiian’s Twitter updates (@HawaiianAir), become a fan on Facebook  (Hawaiian Airlines), and follow us on Instagram (hawaiianairlines). For career postings and updates, follow Hawaiian’s LinkedIn page.

For media inquiries, please visit Hawaiian Airlines’ online newsroom.

Aloha + Sunshine: Hawaiian Airlines Connects Florida and Hawai‘i with Nonstop Orlando-Honolulu Flights

Speakers

L-R, back row: Tanya Wilder, Transportation Director – City of Orlando Government; Jeff Helfrick, Vice President, Airport Operations – Hawaiian Airlines; Phil Brown, CEO – GOAA; Roseann Harrington, Chief of Staff – Orange County Government; and Vicki Jaramillo, Sr. Director – GOAA

HONOLULU – Floridians yearning for a Hawai‘i vacation can now conveniently travel from the Sunshine to the Aloha state with Hawaiian Airlines’ new, twice-weekly nonstop service between Orlando (MCO) and Honolulu (HNL). Hawai‘i’s hometown carrier this morning welcomed guests with flower lei, and Hawaiian music and dance as they boarded the first scheduled commercial flight connecting Florida and Hawai‘i.

“We are excited to introduce our Florida guests to our award-winning Hawaiian hospitality so they may start their island vacation the moment they step onboard,” said Peter Ingram, president and CEO of Hawaiian Airlines. “We are just as pleased to offer Hawai‘i travelers the unmatched convenience of our nonstop service from Honolulu to Orlando, a popular destination for our kama‘āina (residents).”

Hawaiian will increase MCO-HNL service to three weekly flights from June 1 through Aug. 10 to meet summer travel demand.

Serenaders2

Dancers and musicians performed at the inaugural ceremony for HA85 at Orlando International Airport

Prior to the start of Hawaiian’s service, Orlando was one of the largest U.S. travel markets to the Hawaiian Islands without nonstop flights. A sought-after destination for Hawai’i residents visiting its world-renowned attractions, Orlando becomes Hawaiian’s third Eastern gateway city – along with New York (JFK) and Boston (BOS).

“Having new service to a domestic destination as popular as Honolulu is a win not only for the residents of Central Florida, but for everyone who travels from Orlando International Airport,” said Phil Brown, chief executive officer of the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority. “Being able to directly connect two of the world’s popular vacation spots brings a next-level service for travelers looking to explore the best leisure destinations in the United States.”

Guests onboard Hawaiian’s flights will enjoy complimentary island-inspired meals by Hawai‘i’s top chefs and the roominess and superior comfort of its 278-seat Airbus A330 aircraft, which feature 18 First Class lie-flat leather seats arranged in a 2-2-2 configuration tailored for couples, families and honeymooners, as well as business travelers. Hawaiian’s A330s are also equipped with 68 of its popular Extra Comfort premium economy seats providing more legroom and enhanced amenities, in addition to 192 Main Cabin seats.

Flight HA85 departs Orlando on Tuesday and Saturday at 8:15 a.m. with a 2:05 p.m. scheduled arrival in Honolulu, allowing guests to check in to their accommodations and begin exploring O‘ahu or connect to any of Hawaiian’s four Neighbor Island destinations. The flight from Honolulu to Orlando, HA86, departs on Thursday and Sunday at 5:15 p.m. and arrives at 7 a.m. the next day. Hawaiian’s increased seasonal summer schedule will include additional departures from MCO on Thursdays and from HNL on Tuesdays.

 

HA85 water cannon salute

HA85 departed MCO with a water cannon salute to mark the inaugural service

Hawaiian, the nation’s most punctual airline for 17 straight years, has simplified the experience for guests to meet the state of Hawai‘i’s pre-travel testing requirements and be exempt from quarantine upon arrival with a list of state of Hawai’i approved testing providers in Orlando. Guests who obtain a negative test will receive a pre-clear wristband during boarding that allows them to bypass airport screening in Hawai‘i.

About Hawaiian Airlines

Hawaiian® has led all U.S. carriers in on-time performance for each of the past 17 years (2004-2020) as reported by the U.S. Department of Transportation. Consumer surveys by Condé Nast Traveler, Travel + Leisure and TripAdvisor have placed Hawaiian among the top of all domestic airlines serving Hawai‘i.

Now in its 92nd year of continuous service, Hawaiian is Hawai‘i's biggest and longest-serving airline. Hawaiian offers nonstop flights within the islands, between Hawai‘i and more U.S. gateway cities (16) than any other airline, as well as service connecting the islands with Japan and South Korea. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, Hawaiian has temporarily suspended service in Australia, New Zealand, American Samoa and Tahiti.

The airline is committed to the health and safety of its guests and employees and has reinforced enhanced cleaning procedures across its business. While the experience may be a little different, the authentic Hawaiian hospitality remains unchanged. Additional details on how Hawaiian is keeping guests and employees safe can be found at HawaiianAirlines.com/KeepingYouSafe.

Hawaiian Airlines, Inc. is a subsidiary of Hawaiian Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: HA). Additional information is available at HawaiianAirlines.com. Follow Hawaiian’s Twitter updates (@HawaiianAir), become a fan on Facebook  (Hawaiian Airlines), and follow us on Instagram (hawaiianairlines). For career postings and updates, follow Hawaiian’s LinkedIn page.

For media inquiries, please visit Hawaiian Airlines’ online newsroom.

 

Five Questions on Our Recovery, with Hawaiian Airlines SVP Brent Overbeek

After a challenging 2020, it’s been uplifting for us at Hawaiian Airlines to start seeing tangible signs pointing to a recovery in travel – and none more exciting for us than this week’s launch of two of our four newest routes, Long Beach-Maui and Orlando-Honolulu. Our Ontario-Honolulu service begins Tuesday, followed by Austin-Honolulu service in April.

While our airline and Hawai‘i as a destination are well-positioned for a recovery, confidence, determination, and a good game plan will be essential. 

“Let’s focus on that recovery by remembering who we are and why our guests choose us and share that warmth and aloha after a brutal year of quarantines and empty airports,” Hawaiian Airlines President and CEO Peter Ingram wrote employees in a recent company memo. “Our hoʻokipa [hospitality] is a refuge for weary travelers, and it also reconnects us with each other as our business returns.”

To learn more about what the near-term future holds for our airline, including demand trends, the state of our fleet and network, we sat down to talk story with Brent Overbeek, senior vice president of network planning and revenue management at Hawaiian Airlines.

Team Kokua

Brent Overbeek, pictured second from the left, at a recent company volunteer event at the Hawaii Foodbank.

Can you explain the reasoning behind launching our latest routes at this time? How are they performing so far? 

We know demand in some of our deeper, established markets – like Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and Seattle – will take some time to return to pre-pandemic levels. In this downtime, we saw an opportunity to expand our footprint on the U.S. West Coast and tap into new markets that have demonstrated a strong interest in travel to Hawaiʻi.

Before the launch of our new Orlando-Honolulu service, Orlando was the second-largest travel market to the Hawaiian Islands that lacked nonstop flights, and the second most popular destination for kamaʻāina (Hawaiʻi residents), after Las Vegas. Austin, where the population is growing in correlation with its thriving tech sector, is similar in that it is the third-largest travel market to the Hawaiian Islands without the convenience of a nonstop flight. We launch our inaugural flight to Honolulu from Orlando this Saturday and Austin-Honolulu in April – both routes becoming the first and the only nonstop option to Honolulu. Bookings are so promising that we’ve decided to expand our service to meet the growing demand during the upcoming summer travel season.

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Elijah, Jesse and their mother Tammy, an A321neo first officer at Hawaiian Airlines, joined our inaugural Honolulu-Orlando flight, which departed yesterday and arrived in Orlando this morning.

 

In terms of expanding our U.S. West Coast pool, we have had our eyes on launching service between Long Beach and Kahului, Maui, for some time now. We have had an airport slot for a while and initially planned to launch our service before the COVID-19 pandemic. Many of our guests flying our Long Beach-Honolulu flights also connect to Maui, so it made sense to us from a business and network perspective to offer them direct access to the Valley Isle.

One thing that some folks may remember is that we are not new to Ontario. We briefly served the market in 2002 but stopped in 2004 because our wide-body aircraft size was not suitable for the demand of a mid-sized market back then. Today, our fuel-efficient Airbus A321neo, a mid-sized plane, is the perfect match for the route. 

LGBOGG Inaugural - Photo Credit LGB Airport

Photo credit: Long Beach Airport
Hawaiian Airlines' guests received fresh lei and gifts while boarding the inaugural LGB-OGG flight Wednesday morning.

 

We are pleased with these markets' early performance, and we anticipate demand to continue to strengthen into the summer. We’ve also decided to expand our service to ONT to meet summer travel demand.

How does demand look as we approach peak periods? How does Hawaiian leverage busier travel periods to build momentum and confidence?

The improvement in demand is encouraging, but we have a long way to go. We have seen an upward trend in booking since mid-January as COVID-19 cases decline, confidence in the vaccines grow, and people feel comfortable traveling again. Right now, our focus is on ramping up our North America schedule. In February, we flew about 60 percent of our pre-pandemic levels, and as we continue to add back service, I think we will likely be in the 90-95-percent range in May. Travel within the state of Hawai‘i is also picking up as our U.S. mainland guests connect to the other Neighbor Islands.

A full recovery of our Neighbor Island network will hinge on a relaxation of testing and quarantine requirements. Given our collective progress as a community to keep infections low in Hawaiʻi, we’re confident that could happen soon.

International is a whole other ballpark as we’re working with each government’s varying travel restrictions. While we have testing partnerships in Japan and Korea, travel restrictions there and in Australia, New Zealand, American Samoa and Tahiti are forcing a much slower recovery on our business's international side.

What does recovery look like to you? 

As we worked our way through the pandemic, we complemented our research into booking data and trends with web search data and other metrics of interest in travel. We are now at a point where interest is turning into realized demand, so our traditional metrics are proving to become useful again.

How do services like our pre-travel testing network, pre-clear options, and other programs meant to streamline the travel experience help drive our recovery?

People are ready to travel for leisure, and Hawaiʻi is on their minds. Before COVID-19, making travel effortless was a critical focus area for us, seen in recent enhancements to our booking tools, mobile app and airport self-services. Today, our pre-travel testing partnerships and pre-clear options are an extension of our commitment to streamline our guests’ travel experience by helping them navigate and meet requirements to visit and enjoy Hawai‘i safely.

Talk a bit about our fleet. How have we adapted our fleet to a “new normal” of flying? What plans are there for our fleet looking ahead? 

Unloading HNL

In April 2020, we retrofitted one of our Airbus A330 to transport 1.6 million face masks from China to Honolulu.

 

We’ve certainly been agile in using the fleet in various ways over the past year, including introducing the Airbus A321neo into some Neighbor island flying and using the Airbus A330 for cargo-only operations, which expanded our existing charter footprint. As the travel industry, consumer confidence and the economy recover, I think we’ll transition back to how we used our fleet before the pandemic.

We’ll receive the first of our ten Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner in 2022, though we don’t anticipate bringing it into service until 2023.

Featured image credit: Long Beach Airport

Hawaiian Airlines Starts Long Beach-Maui Service

HONOLULU – Hawaiian Airlines today began nonstop service between Long Beach (LGB) and Kahului, Maui (OGG), welcoming Southern California travelers onboard with flower lei and the convenience of a second daily flight to Hawai‘i. Hawai‘i’s hometown airline became the first carrier to connect Long Beach to the Hawaiian Islands when it started Honolulu service in the summer of 2018.

“Long Beach has been an incredibly popular gateway for our visitors and Hawai‘i residents traveling to Southern California, and we are pleased to make it even more convenient for our guests to travel between Long Beach and Maui with our new daily nonstop service,” said Brent Overbeek, senior vice president of revenue management and network planning at Hawaiian Airlines.

LGBOGG Inaugural - Photo Credit LGB Airport

Photo credit: Long Beach Airport
Hawaiian's Airbus A321neo departing Long Beach Airport for Maui's Kahului Airport.

 

Flight HA71 departs Long Beach daily at 8:35 a.m. with a 12:35 p.m. scheduled arrival time on Maui, giving guests ample time to settle in their accommodations and enjoy their first afternoon on the Valley Isle. The flight from Maui to Long Beach, HA72, departs at 12:45 p.m. and arrives at 8:05 p.m.

“We are excited that Hawaiian Airlines is now offering a second daily nonstop flight to Hawai’i, this time to the beautiful island of Maui,” said Long Beach Airport Director Cynthia Guidry. “Travelers will love the ease and convenience of flying Hawaiian Airlines to and from Long Beach Airport.”

LGBOGG Inaugural - Photo Credit LGB Airport

Photo credit: Long Beach Airport
Hawaiian Airlines' guests received fresh lei and gifts while boarding the inaugural LGB-OGG flight Wednesday morning.

 

Hawaiian, the nation’s most punctual airline for 17 straight years, will service the route with its modern Airbus A321neos, a quiet and fuel-efficient aircraft with 16 luxurious leather recliners in First Class, 44 Extra Comfort seats and 129 Main Cabin seats. Inside, guests will enjoy Hawaiian’s award-winning hospitality, including complimentary island-inspired meals by Hawai‘i’s top chefs and streaming in-flight entertainment.

Hawaiian has also simplified the experience for guests to meet the state of Hawai‘i’s pre-travel testing requirements and be exempt from quarantine upon arrival. In partnership with Long Beach-based Worksite Labs, the carrier offers guests at LGB airport exclusive access to shallow nasal swab PCR tests – the gold standard in COVID-19 screening – with results within 36 hours for $90. Guests who obtain a negative test will receive a pre-clear wristband during boarding that allows them to bypass airport screening in Hawai‘i.

About Hawaiian Airlines

Hawaiian® has led all U.S. carriers in on-time performance for each of the past 17 years (2004-2020) as reported by the U.S. Department of Transportation. Consumer surveys by Condé Nast Traveler, Travel + Leisure and TripAdvisor have placed Hawaiian among the top of all domestic airlines serving Hawai‘i.

Now in its 92nd year of continuous service, Hawaiian is Hawai‘i's biggest and longest-serving airline. Hawaiian offers nonstop flights within the Hawaiian Islands, between Hawai‘i and more U.S. gateway cities (16) than any other airline, as well as service connecting the islands with Japan and South Korea. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, Hawaiian has temporarily suspended service in Australia, New Zealand, American Samoa and Tahiti.

The airline is committed to the health and safety of its guests and employees and has reinforced enhanced cleaning procedures across its business. While the experience may be a little different, the authentic Hawaiian hospitality remains unchanged. Additional details on how Hawaiian is keeping guests and employees safe can be found at HawaiianAirlines.com/KeepingYouSafe.

Hawaiian Airlines, Inc. is a subsidiary of Hawaiian Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: HA). Additional information is available at HawaiianAirlines.com. Follow Hawaiian’s Twitter updates (@HawaiianAir), become a fan on Facebook  (Hawaiian Airlines), and follow us on Instagram (hawaiianairlines). For career postings and updates, follow Hawaiian’s LinkedIn page.

For media inquiries, please visit Hawaiian Airlines’ online newsroom.

Groundbreaking pilots have their sights on closing the gender gap

Chances are, on any given flight, your pilot isn’t a woman—an irking approximation both Captain Kat Pullis and Kisa Wiley hope will change during their lifetime.

Women in the flight deck remain somewhat of a rarity: Only about 7 percent of commercial airline pilots in the U.S. are women. However, Pullis and Wiley want the industry to celebrate how far it’s come in recent years and set an example for future generations of women in aviation.

“We are rare, but for us to be successful in whatever we choose to do is not.” — Captain Kisa Wiley, Base Chief Pilot, Horizon Air

Capt. Kisa Wiley with an E-175 Horizon aircraft in 2021.

Both pilots agree the path to becoming a pilot is not always linear, and the aviation industry still has work to do to reach gender and racial equity.

As a company, we celebrate their unwavering tenacity, achievements and paving the way for women alike in the industry every day, especially today, International Women’s Day.

Captain Wiley didn’t always dream of becoming a pilot. Fate has a funny way of putting you in the right place at the right time.

While studying Art History in college, her sister asked her to go to ground school with her—to take classes to gain all necessary aeronautical knowledge before flying. That fall, she turned in her history books for a pair of wings at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, the world’s largest, fully accredited university specializing in aviation and aerospace.

Capt. Wiley in 2021.

Today, she is a captain and base chief pilot for Horizon Air, Alaska’s regional airline, which she has been part of since 2015. When she’s not flying, she is the first point of contact for management when a pilot needs something—similar to an HR representative. She helps pilots navigate medical appointments, jury duty, a death in the family or answer questions they may have about X, Y and Z.

“My favorite thing is being able to make a difference for somebody,” Wiley said. “Because I’ve been that pilot who needs something and it might seem like a little thing, but it can mean a world of a difference to them.”

Captain Pullis, also a base chief pilot, is the first female to assume this role at Alaska Airlines. Her path to aviation was a bit different. Growing up in Hawaii on Oahu, she looked at travel as a way to spread her wings and see the world.

Capt. Pullis in 2019.

She says her strength and inspiration come from her Hawaiian ancestor Queen Ka’ahumanu, who removed taboos and barriers for women in Hawaii.

“I named my daughter after her. She means a lot to me culturally and as a female,” she says, and like a queen, Capt. Pullis takes pride in not fitting the mold. “As soon as I embraced my differences, everything worked out. I didn’t have to pretend to be the ‘perfect’ pilot—I just had to be myself.”

“At the end of the day, if you’re just yourself, and you don’t put up a wall, and you can just be another human sitting next to another human and try not to make it this male-female thing, it is great, and all the walls fall,” said Capt. Pullis. Photo from 2019.

Wiley quickly learned that flying came naturally to her—call it perseverance or family genes—both her dad and grandfather were pilots. Her mom also worked for Alaska in the 70s with maintenance and later on as a flight attendant.

Her dad was one of the first Black pilots hired at Alaska in 1975.

Wiley’s parents both worked for Alaska Airlines. Her dad was one of the first Black pilots hired at Alaska.

“I didn’t really think of my dad as a pioneer growing up; it wasn’t until I was older and started learning about some of the history and some of the challenges and discrimination he may have faced when getting his career started that I realized how impressive it all was,” Wiley said.

Growing up, she says she was fortunate not to be told certain things were for boys or girls.

Capt. Wiley in 2021.

“I realized the upbringing I had was a privilege, not the norm. And that is extremely unfortunate because it should just be the norm to tell people of color or women that they can do the same thing that white guys do,” Wiley said.

When asked what sort of changes she’s noticed since her parents’ day, Wiley says the industry is more welcoming, but there is still more work to improve gender inclusivity and racial equity.

“The number of female pilots has increased, but it’s still a male-dominated field. However, I’ve noticed recruiting has changed, and we’re trying to hire more women of color,” Wilesey said.

As a Black Asian female pilot, Wiley says she was happy to see Horizon and Alaska actually put a plan in action to advance racial equity.

“I was glad to see it extend beyond the period of time when the outrage dies down, and the steps toward progress do too,” she said.

Pullis agrees the field could use more women, but it starts with education and setting realistic expectations like what flying will be like while trying to balance a family and personal life.

Pullis’ husband is also a pilot with Alaska. She says “even though I’m a groundbreaking woman, none of this would be possible without the support of my husband! I’m so fortunate to have such a great partner!”

“When I first started, I was like ‘I want to fly the biggest airplane around the world and just travel.’ If you were to ask me now, that’s the furthest thing from what I want … I want to go up and down the West Coast and then come home and have dinner with my kids. That’s my priority now,” said Pullis.

Wiley, a mom of two, says finding balance as a pilot can be challenging but isn’t anything she can’t handle. Someday, if her daughter chooses to fly, she would be a fifth-generation pilot — and hopefully her chances of sitting next to a female co-pilot will be much greater.

Wiley with her family pre-pandemic. Her husband is a fourth generation pilot—his dad actually flew with Wiley’s dad once in the 80s (talk about a small world).

5 reasons Alaska Airlines employees are truly remarkable

The people of Alaska, including our regional airline Horizon Air, are the heart of our business and the reason we’re an award-winning airline. We celebrate their passion, dedication and hard work every day—especially today, Employee Appreciation Day, with heartfelt thanks for all they do!

Here are five reasons our employees are remarkable:

1. Safety is always top of mind.

Safety is at the forefront of everything we do at Alaska Airlines. Every employee is empowered to stop the operation if something feels unsafe. In fact, we love safety so much, our employees made a music video about it. Featuring our actual employees, the video highlights the number of ways we’re focused on keeping our guests and employees safe as part of Next-Level Care.

2. Kind-heartedness comes naturally.

Our people put their hearts into everything they do. They are the foundation of who we are as a company and live out our purpose of creating an airline people love. And we will continue to advance racial equity with goals for representation, inclusive culture, and public leadership. Learn more.

3. Make travel carefree and easy.

Alaska employees are empowered to think differently, so they can provide the best experience for our guests and employees. Innovation is a huge part of who we are, and our teams are always looking for new ways to enhance the travel experience such as offering touch-free travel options that allow guests to scan boarding passes up to six feet away, print bag tags without touching the check-in kiosk and purchase food and beverages on board using pre-stored payment preferences, and Pre-Clear requirements for seamless travel to Hawaii.

4. Community giving is nonstop.

Our employees are heavily invested in the communities we serve and support the charities they care about most. Through matching gifts, our LIFT Miles programs, the Alaska Airlines Foundation and community events, Alaska makes it easy for employees to give back, and recognizes employees each year for going above and beyond in service to their community. Our people are especially passionate about making flying matter for good and connecting young people with opportunities for a better future – including career paths in aviation!

5. Resilient beyond measure.

Our employees always go above and beyond—nights, weekends and holidays—to take care of our guests, each other and our communities. They never stop working to make Alaska the best we can be, including through a year that was anything but normal. Together, we go far.

Thank you!

Alaska’s Pre-Clear Program makes flying to Hawaii a breeze says guest & island native

Recently, I flew to Hawaii using Alaska’s Pre-Clear program to seamlessly get to the islands to help my baby sister move into her dorm room for her first year of college. I couldn’t miss out on this major milestone (and aloha, Hawaii!).

My two sisters and I are super close. My baby sis is 14 years younger than me so you can imagine what it was like as a teenager having to share the TV with a toddler—swapping MTV for baby Mozart and diaper duties before slipping away to dance class. Don’t get me wrong, the tot cramped my style, but it wasn’t long before our bond was deeper than any high school clique.

When it was time for her to go to college—during the COVID-19 pandemic nonetheless—I knew I had to be there (mindfully).

Left to right: My oldest sister, youngest sister and I with ‘Leahi’ in the background (aka ‘Diamond Head.’) ll Right: Mom and daughters.

Hawaii is the ‘Pre-tty-Clear’ choice to travel safe & mindfully

Alaska recently launched its Hawaii Pre-Clear program, empowering flyers with the ability to bypass airport screening upon arrival with an approved negative COVID-19 test. Pre-Clear is just one of the many features of Alaska’s Next-Level Care that provides guests with a safe, clean and mindful travel experience—it was super easy and made all the difference!

What is Pre-Clear? And, how do you get it?

Alaska’s Hawaii-bound guests can skip the line upon arrival in the Hawaiian Islands.

Get pre-cleared online in six easy steps:

1) Create a ‘Safe Travels profile’ at https://travel.hawaii.gov. Each traveling adult must create their own profile. You can add minors as additional travel members.

2) Enter your trip details. Add a trip for each leg of travel. A QR code will be needed for each leg of your trip—the QR code is key!

3) Upload your documents. First, upload your COVID test result. You are only able to upload a COVID-19 test result taken within 72 hours from the final leg of travel. If your test result is verified, the status of the document will show COVID Negative. Your given name must also match with what is on your gov. ID.

4) Log in to your account 24 hours before your departure to fill out the Travel Health Questionnaire.

5) Receive your QR code via email after filling out the questionnaire. IMPORTANT: Save your QR code to your phone or print it out to speed up the process at the airport.

6) Have the following things ready when you arrive at the airport:

  • Your QR code.
  • A valid government issued ID for each traveling adult.
  • If you have a quarantine exemption, bring your letter or proof of the exemption.
  • It’s also helpful to bring a physical copy of your test results to the airport for the screening process just in case technology fails you.

Once you’re screened at the airport, a gate agent will verify that your profile is updated and give you a pre-clear wristband. Your trip details will be updated under “trips” on your Safe Travels profile, which you can use to show your hotel and/or rental car company that you are exempt from Hawaii’s mandatory 10-day quarantine.

Guests with pending test results will not be able to be pre-cleared prior to departure and will have to quarantine upon arrival in Hawaii for 10 days, or the duration of your stay, whichever is shorter.

My “VIP” Pre-Clear experience

After booking my flight, I visited Alaska’s travel advisory page, where it explained the requirements for each island. Since we were going to Oahu, I learned I needed to take a COVID-19 test from a trusted partner within 72 hours before my Hawaii-bound flight. And since Alaska is all about care and ease, the page linked directly to a list of trusted COVID testing partners. From there, I was able to book my appointment faster than the time it might take you to nail down my Hawaiian middle name (it’s 20 letters long “Kuuipoikaheepueone”).

After booking an appointment to get tested, I went back to the advisory page to find the list of all of the following things I needed to do before my flight:

  • COVID test and results? Check.
  • Safe Travels profile? Check.
  • Required documents locked and loaded for the day of departure? Cheehu! (Pidgin English expression of excitement). Check!

I arrived at the airport about two hours early, anticipating the process might take some extra time, but it didn’t take long at all! I easily found the marked Pre-Clear line and went through the line quickly. My Safe Travels profile was verified by an Alaska AIrlines agent. After that, I was given my official Pre-Clear wristband, and made my way to security.

On board, it was smooth sailing. Every guest wore a mask (a travel requirement these days), and the crew did a fantastic job ensuring people stayed masked-up. From seatback cards to announcements and cute napkins, the message was clear; you can expect that Alaska will keep you safe.

As we deplaned, the crew instructed travelers where to go—if you had a Pre-Clear wristband you were instructed to follow the Pre-Clear path, where we met the National Guard to show off our “VIP” wristbands for quick and easy clearance. Overall, it was simple and effortless.

Be mindful and malama while in Hawaii

Pro tip: when you visit Hawaii, aim to shop local by scouting for a certified ‘Open With Aloha’ sign. Your money will go right back into local small businesses.

Over the next few days, we helped my little sister set up her dorm room, chowed down on ono (delicious) eats, and most importantly, we respected the islands through malama (the Hawaiian value of taking care, preserving, protecting). As Native Hawaiians, but especially as visitors, we must honor the land and culture.

One way we recognized malama was by taking the donor cultural tour at the Maunalua Fishpond Heritage Center in Maunalua Bay, Oahu, to pay our respects to this ancient freshwater spring and educate ourselves on its critical role in the life cycle of many native species. It was humbling and inspiring, motivating my sisters and me to ground ourselves deeper into the roots of our aina (land) and kupuna (ancestors) compelling us to kokua (help) in any way we can.

“Freshwater meeting the ocean is the piko (navel string) of our land and sea,” said Scott Liloa, the fishpond’s kiai O Kanewai (guardian of the spring) who showed us around. “Preservation of this wahi pana (legendary place) is important for the well-being of the aina (land). We hope to preserve and protect this sacred place for all to learn and enjoy for many years to come.”

My sisters and I taking a moment of stillness as we soaked in the sacred space.

As it came time to head back home, I felt refreshed and deeply moved to share my experience and appreciation for Alaska for its commitment to safety and the places they fly.

Mahalo nui loa (thank you very much) for your malama and care, Alaska. Pupukahi i holomua (Unite to move forward.)

Book your dream getaway to Hawaii at alaskaair.com.

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