A year without travel: How one traveler plans to safely put 2021 on the map

February 9, 2021
Guest Experience
Dianne McGinness
7 min read

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When I landed an internship with Alaska Airlines straight out of college and later a full-time job in communications, I felt like I won the lottery. Alaska opened up the world to me, just like it does for so many of its guests every day.

If you also love to travel, you can probably relate to how I felt in 2020 (completely, and utterly, aghast).

Though I traveled in high school and college some, it wasn’t until I worked for an airline that I realized just how much I loved it! Travel is both my greatest passion and my favorite hobby. Before the pandemic, I was traveling at least two to three weekends per month, almost always for fun.

Last year, I flew roughly 20,000 miles—about a third of what I would normally fly in a year.

From January through the beginning of March, I traveled mostly domestically until COVID-19 became a public health issue in the United States. Here’s where I visited:

A solo trip to Montreal, Quebec, Feb. 16, 2020

A weekend in Maui, Feb. 21, 2020

A sister’s trip to San Diego, Feb. 2, 2020

A weekend in Anchorage, Alaska, Feb. 28, 2020

A friend’s birthday in Loreto, Mexico, March 13, 2020

Before the world was turned on its head due to COVID, I had plans to go to Ecuador in June, a trip to Chile in the fall and my best friend and I were even planning a trip to Bali to celebrate my 30th birthday in September. Alas, I had to change my plans and go with the flow like everyone else.

Please take your seat … on the couch

The word “homebody” is not something I would ever use to describe myself. However, 2020 had a way of forcing us all to embrace staying home. Unfortunately, for me, I was unable to spend that time with my friends or family due to distance, which made things even worse. There were times where I felt like I lost my identity entirely.

My favorite things to do, besides being with my friends and family, is taking a quick trip to grab tacos in San Diego or jet off to Juneau, Alaska to explore the town.

While I was grateful to be healthy and safe in 2020, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t miss traveling.

Last summer, instead of traveling, I took long walks around neighborhoods in North Seattle, meticulously planning out what household chores I would do next and reminisce about old trips. I missed traveling so much, I even became one of those people who started referring to different rooms in the house by three-letter airport codes (living room = LIV, bedroom =BDR, etc.).

Don’t get me wrong–I was grateful for my summer exploring the beautiful Pacific Northwest. I went on a lot of hikes, which were wonderful, but I still missed wandering the world.

Mt Fremont Lookout Trail, Mt. Rainier National Park

“I would have jumped on a plane to go just about anywhere.”

At the end of August, I volunteered to take a work trip to Spokane, Washington. When I boarded Horizon Air, Alaska’s regional airline, it felt like I was on my way to Tahiti! I was so excited to walk through the doors of Sea-Tac Airport, only this time, I had a mask covering my nose and mouth, and my travel accessories included a package of Lysol wipes and two bottles of hand sanitizer. But at this point, I would have jumped on a plane to go just about anywhere.

“Before yesterday, I hadn’t been on a plane in nearly six months. To say I’ve missed flying and traveling would be an understatement! It was so nice to be back in the air again yes! 😍 I’ve always been happiest when I’m on the go. Up next: Boise, Idaho! (Also, our planes are cleaner than ever!)” @mcginndo via instagram

Another flight was in store for me in 2020 (praise the travel gods). In September, my sister and I flew Alaska Airlines to Charleston, South Carolina to celebrate my 30th birthday. Though it wasn’t Bali, it felt amazing to fly again!

By June, Alaska’s safety program (Next-Level Care) had been well underway, which implemented over 100 different ways to maintain the highest standard of safety throughout your journey—from mask requirements, enhanced cleaning, hospital-grade HEPA filters onboard and more—we felt super safe and cared for from start to finish and I’m not just saying that!

So, what does travel look like in 2021?

If only I had a crystal ball that could tell me when life will get back to a sense of normal. For now, this globe trotter is only traveling to domestic destinations. I’m looking for places where I can spend a majority of my time outside and away from other people. Thankfully, there are a lot of national parks and outdoor getaways that Alaska serves, so there are plenty of options.

This is just one travel bug’s take on 2020 and travel right now, but I’m optimistic about becoming ungrounded in 2021.

Some final thoughts & travel tips:

In January, I had the opportunity to visit Maui, Hawaii with my sister for her birthday.

We did our research. When we were initially deciding where we wanted to go, we chose Maui because we wanted a warm location where we could spend the majority of our time outside.

We planned ahead. The state of Hawaii requires proof of a negative COVID-19 test from a trusted testing partner taken within 72 hours of departure. Alaska Airlines makes it very easy. I used Carbon Health and my sister got her test done through Costco. Alaska also pre-clears travelers to the Hawaiian Islands as part of the Hawaii Pre-Clear program, which meant we didn’t have to wait in line when we arrived and got to vacation sooner. You can learn more about the program at alaskaair.com/Hawaii-bound.

(Also, for a nearly touch-free travel experience, be sure to download Alaska’s mobile app.)

We masked up. I’ve recently started double masking when walking through airports and onboard flights as an extra safety precaution. I’m extremely comforted though knowing that the HEPA filters on Alaska Airlines are circulating air through the cabin every two to three minutes, so there’s always fresh air. (Alaska also does a phenomenal job of cleaning their aircraft. Check it out!)

In Hawaii, I also brought my mask with me everywhere I went, even to the beach, and put it on anytime I passed someone outside.

We had a wonderful time! No, not everything in Maui was open. But we did get in a couple of hikes (Waihe’e Ridge Trail was stunning as were the Lava Fields), spent a ton of time at the beach and I also ate my fair share of fish tacos! (Check out Paia’s Fish market in Kihei! They have some of the best.) Most restaurants are open for take-out or at a limited capacity. Just double check or call ahead before you go.

If you choose to travel, just make sure you take the necessary safety precautions and research the destination you’re headed to beforehand. And if you’re not ready, that’s okay too.

Alaska will be here when you are! Book your next adventure today at alaskaair.com.

Real-life employees star in Alaska’s 80s-inspired ‘Safety Dance’ video

February 5, 2021
Stories
Alaska Airlines
5 min read

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It’s not every day that a group of airline employees covers a hit song from the 80s, but bringing the “fun” to care and safety is just what Alaska does.

Resurrecting the 1982 Men Without Hats single “Safety Dance,” 10 real Alaska Airlines employees starred in the recently launched TV spot all about the safety measures that make up Alaska’s Next-Level Care.

Employees rehearsed behind-the-scenes for three days in Alaska’s Seattle hangar to get the moves just right with Anna Matuszewski, Macklemore’s choreographer, and director Warren Fu who is known for his work with artists such as Dua Lipa, The Weeknd, Daft Punk and HAIM. Learn more about their experience on centerstage below.

Keytar-shredding Pilot Patrick Miller

Alaska Captain Patrick Miller (or Captain Pat, as everyone calls him) tried to keep a low profile during the Safety Dance filming, but the director quickly realized they had a star in their midst.

Miller’s natural swagger and infamous keytar moved him quickly to the forefront. And even though he’s never played ‘a lick’ of keytar before, he says his informal guitar playing in a band and countless weddings over the years prepared him for this moment.

“It was a heck of a lot of fun,” Miller said. “Just a cool experience.”

Alaska Airlines Captain Patrick Miller behind-the-scenes.

Miller also loves the message of Safety Dance—and that it shows how Next-Level Care is something Alaska takes very seriously. “The cabin is kept so clean, it’s sanitized after every flight, masks are required and our HEPA filters onboard remove 99.9% of contaminants in the air.”

Designated Lead Trainer & Dancer Jonathan Foster-Harris

When the fan came on and the hair began flowing freely, Jonathan Foster-Harris had his “Beyonce Moment.” Showing off his dance experience, you can see Jonathan in the video “riding the pony” and, like Natalie, showing off his flexibility with a COVID microbe kick.

“I hope it brought a smile to your face and made you move your waist,” he says.

During his day job as designated lead trainer, Foster-Harris helps keep Alaska’s operation running smoothly, from building schedules to subbing for customer service agents. “I’m here to surprise, delight and encourage,” he says.

Alaska Airlines Designated Lead Trainer Jonathan Foster-Harris behind-the-scenes.

He’s also enthusiastic about getting the message across that Alaska is serious about safety. “We deep-clean planes using high-grade EPA-disinfectants and electrostatic sprayers and do a lot to keep people safe,” he said.

Alaska’s safety-first mindset also held true even through rehearsals and production with COVID safeguards in place for the entire shoot. Ventilation was monitored, COVID tests were administered daily, everyone had masks and shields and physical distancing was faithfully observed.

“This whole experience has been another reflection of Alaska’s commitment to safety that’s been there since the beginning,” Foster-Harris said. “Even though a pandemic, Alaska’s still the airline people love.”

High-kicking Flight Attendant Natalie Razor

Natalie Razor has been with Alaska for a year and a half and says it’s her dream job. As a flight attendant, Razor is all about safety and shows up with amazing energy. She loves talking to guests about how the air onboard refreshes every two to three minutes and how important it is to keep masks on while flying.

Her love for safety is crystal clear during her starring moment in the video, when she exclaims that masking up in the cabin is a must and shows off her boxing and high-kicking skills to one very overwhelmed “coronavirus molecule.”

“Even my eye doctor loves it,” she said. “Just to represent Alaska is such an honor. It’s a family and to be there representing what we stand for in safety and health really means everything.”

Horizon Air Flight Attendant Natalie Razor behind-the-scenes.

Razor loves to dance—even going so far as to proudly display the high kick at one local grocery store parking lot at the request of a mom and her young daughter, and learning all the moves in the video (even the scenes she wasn’t in). That’s just her style, who is also a proud mom to dancer daughters–one of whom is on an NBA dance squad. The moves just run in the family!

Learn the official Safety Dance moves from Alaska Flight Attendant Rai Adair

Your moves could win you roundtrip tickets!

“Dancing releases endorphins, reduces stress and puts a smile on everyone’s face, even under a mask,” said Adair. “I hope everyone is finding opportunities to put joy into their day, and I hope this gives them another chance at it.”

Post a video of your version of our Safety Dance using the hashtag #AlaskaSafetyDance & you’ll be entered to win two roundtrip flights! Videos must be posted before 2/13 @ 11:59 p.m. Official rules: https://bit.ly/2LkjMbj

Perpetuating Hawaiian Language at 28,000 Feet

February 4, 2021
blog
Hawaiian Airlines
9 min read

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Employees across our airline are joining hands this February to perpetuate mahina ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian language month). This year, through their collective actions, from organizing surprise ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi flights to partnering with native Hawaiian designer Keola Nakaʻahiki Rapozo, we are proud to share Hawaiian language and culture with our guests and the communities we serve.

Mathew 'Manakō' Tanaka, senior specialist of community and cultural relations at Hawaiian Airlines, shared his pride for his colleagues: "Pōmaikaʻi ka Hui Mokulele ʻo Hawaiian i ke koho ʻana o nā kānaka makeʻe ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi iā kākou ʻo ia ko lākou wahi e lawelawe ai i ka hana. Lei pāpahi kākou i ko lākou kuanaʻike Hawaiʻi. He kōkua pū ia i ke kākoʻo ʻana i nā limahana ʻē aʻe i hoihoi e hoʻomau i ko lākou ʻonipaʻa ʻana i ka ʻimi naʻauao ma nā mea Hawaiʻi." (“We are fortunate at Hawaiian Airlines that those with a passion for Hawaiian language have chosen us as their place of work. Their world view contributes to a diverse lei with which our company adorns itself. They are also an invaluable resource for those employees who are steadfast in their quest for knowledge about Hawaiian things.")

Tanaka pictured holding the ʻōlelo Hawai‘i interaction card that was passed out to guests on four surprise ʻōlelo Hawai‘i flights between Honolulu and Kona on Feb. 1. Guests were encouraged to use the card to request beverages in ʻōlelo Hawai’i from the Hawaiian language-certified flight attendants who crewed the flights.

This month on Manaʻo, we’re featuring moʻōlelo (stories) of employees who dedicate themselves to sharing ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi with others. Manaʻo readers can also join us in our celebration by visiting our Instagram channels and participating in our weekly social media sweepstakes, which encourage followers to learn ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi from employee-created videos and share a clip of themselves speaking the phrases for a chance to win a prize.

To read more stories about past ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi initiatives at Hawaiian Airlines featured on our blog, click here.

Meet Marc Kealiʻiokalani Naval, a Life-Long Learner of ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi

Boeing 717 Captain Marc Kealiʻiokalani Naval discovered his love for learning ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi at a young age, thanks to his tutu (grandmother).

“When I was younger, in the mid-to-late 80s, the state had this program where they hired kūpuna [elders] throughout the community to go to into schools and teach Hawaiian songs, dance and the language to elementary students. They [the state] didn’t have dedicated ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi speakers back then, so they hired them to go out and share their mana’o [knowledge] with the children,” Naval said. “They hired my tutu, and she had this little filing box at home where she kept her handouts for her students. One of them was a map of each island divided into ahupuaʻa [traditional subdivisions] that the keiki had to color. My school had a different kūpuna assigned to work with us, but when I would come home, we would go through those handouts together, and she would teach me.”

Naval pictured at his home in Windward Oʻahu.

Naval, now 42 years old, was born and raised on Oʻahu and is part Hawaiian. Throughout elementary and middle school, Naval spoke ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi casually, using commonly used words and phrases that he learned from his ʻohana (family). His formal education on ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi began at the age of fourteen when he started attending Kamehameha Schools, a private, statewide school system established by the will of the late Hawaiian princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop to improve the well-being of Hawaiians.

“When I was in ninth grade at Kamehameha, I had to fulfill language requirements. I wanted to take Japanese because tourism from Asia was growing so fast, and I thought it would be cool to speak with Japanese tourists. But my mother said, ‘No, you need to learn your language and culture.’ I was only required to take two years of language courses, but I ended up taking three years and spent another year learning hula,” Naval recalled.

At the same time, Naval, a first-generation pilot, was fostering a passion for flight, which started in the passenger seat of glider flights over Oʻahu’s North Shore. After graduating from Kamehameha, he attended Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Arizona, where he and his wife, an aerospace engineer and part Hawaiian as well, met in the school’s Hawaiʻi club. Naval went on to become a pilot at a regional carrier in Texas, but when a family emergency called he and his wife back to Hawaiʻi, they’d make their long-awaited return to the Islands for good. Soon after, they were both hired at Hawaiian Airlines.

Naval pictured in a cockpit with his wife, Maria, a senior engineer at Hawaiian Airlines. (Editor's note: This photo was taken prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.)

“There was a good amount of people at Embry-Riddle who were from Hawaiʻi, and almost everyone from Hawaiʻi who attended Embry-Riddle wanted to work for Hawaiian Airlines,” he said. “Working at Hawaiian Airlines is like hitting the jackpot, because Hawaiʻi was our home and home is where we all wanted to be. When I moved back to Oʻahu with my wife in 2012, we both ended up getting jobs at Hawaiian. I joined as a first officer on the Boeing 767, which I flew for about six years.”

After flying transpacific routes on the Boeing 767, a fleet our airline retired in January 2019, Naval’s interest in Japanese language was renewed. “Japan was my favorite route to fly, so I wanted to learn Japanese again. I enrolled at Windward Community College and applied for Japanese classes. About a week before my lessons started, I got an email saying that the class had gotten canceled,” he said. “I had already gone through all of the paperwork and the long process of signing up. So, instead of wasting that time, I asked what other language classes were available. There ended up being an ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi class and so I enrolled. They were night classes, twice a week, and taught by kumu [teachers] who were native speakers. I took classes there for two years.”

Naval continued his education with a year of advanced courses at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa’s Hawaiʻinuiākea School of Hawaiian Knowledge. Though, upon receiving a captain’s promotion on the Boeing 717, the aircraft that serves our Neighbor Island network, he hung his student hat to focus on his career.

Reflecting on his experience, Naval is grateful for having learned from several prominent ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi speakers, including Kumu Fred “Kalani” Meinecke, Kumu Kahikina de Silva, Dr. R. Keawe Lopes, and Kumu Tuti Kanahele Sanborn of Niʻihau, an island southwest of Kaua‘i where a dialect of ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi is the primary language spoken by residents.

He brings his passion for the language and culture to the flight deck each day. For example, if you hear your cabin announcements made in ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi, it just may be Naval in the captain’s seat.

Naval pictured with his daughter Miabella on the tarmac at the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (Editor's note: This photo was taken prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.)

“In my Hawaiian 301 class, I wrote my captain’s announcement in English and worked with one of my kumu to translate it,” Naval said. “I say it occasionally after people have boarded the aircraft. I do the same when asking the flight attendants to be seated. I am not fluent, but I try to speak in ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi when I can. I believe that being able to speak the language is what sets me apart from other captains.”

Also, if Naval finds out that there is a ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi speaker onboard or a child learning to speak it, he’ll go the extra mile to make sure he greets them. “When I meet little kids (in the cabin or the airport) who are learning to speak the language, I hope that they get excited and think, ‘Hey, this guy is a captain, and he can speak ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi?!’” he said. “And I also hope other speakers can see that I am trying.”

Naval’s next goal is to take more classes and help his daughter learn the language. “I want ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi to become more normal and for people to want to learn,” he said. "It’s our culture, our people, and something we are proud of.”

Naval and his ʻohana. (Editor's note: The photo was taken prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.)

Want to start your journey with ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi? Naval recommends Manaʻo readers begin with this challenge: “Try to say the names of Hawaiʻi destinations correctly. I used to say them wrong often, but after taking my classes, I am more vigilant about saying Honolulu, Kahului, Līhuʻe, etc. correctly.”

[Editor’s note: We recommend using this helpful pronunciation guide.]

Hawaiian Airlines Celebrates ‘Ōlelo Hawai‘i Month

February 2, 2021
releases
Hawaiian Airlines
5 min read

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HONOLULU – Hawaiian Airlines is celebrating mahina ʻōlelo Hawai‘i (Hawaiian language month) by partnering with local designer Keola Nakaʻahiki Rapozo to launch the ‘Ōlelo Hawai‘i Collection, a co-branded line of clothing and accessories whose sales proceeds will benefit Ke Kula 'o Samuel M. Kamakau Laboratory Public Charter School.

The collection, created by Make®eady Owner and FITTED Co-Founder Rapozo and available for pre-sale on Hawaiian’s online logo store, features seven exclusive items ranging from T-shirts to totes and mugs. The inspiration behind the collection focuses on Ōhāhā, meaning “flourishing, fully developed, and healthy,” and was influenced by Rapozo’s own keiki (children) with a goal to mālama (care for) the younger generation and encourage the normalization of ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi.

All proceeds from the collection will be donated to Ke Kula ʻo Samuel M. Kamakau to support the windward O‘ahu school’s teaching of ʻōlelo Hawai‘i traditionally and digitally through innovative concepts.

Employees from Hawaiian’s volunteer program, Team Kōkua, will also work closely with teachers at Ke Kula 'o Samuel M. Kamakau to develop Hawaiian language lessons for the airline’s Ke Kumu class, which is currently offered virtually to employees and retirees.

“We are proud ambassadors of our island home, and our employees embrace the opportunity to share the Hawaiian culture with each other and our guests," said Debbie Nakanelua-Richards, director of community and cultural relations at Hawaiian Airlines. "We're excited to grow mahina ʻōlelo Hawai‘i this year with a new design collaboration and school partnership while continuing to engage our guests with a unique onboard experience.”

Hawaiian kicked off mahina ʻōlelo Hawai‘i celebrations yesterday with a surprise and delight ʻōlelo Hawai‘i flight, a tradition now in its third year aimed at engaging its guests, employees and community members in the normalization and perpetuation of the Hawaiian language.

Hawaiian Airlines employees took guests by surprise when they conducted gate and inflight announcements in ʻōlelo Hawai‘i and English on four flights between Honolulu and Kona. Guests also received an ʻōlelo Hawai‘i interaction card with useful phrases for requesting beverages in ʻōlelo Hawai’i from the Hawaiian language-certified flight attendants who crewed the flights.

“ʻO nā holo mokulele ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi, he ala ia e ola ai ka ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi i lohe nā pepeiao o nā malihini a o nā kamaʻāina i ka ʻōlelo o ka ʻāina a ʻo ka Hui Mokulele ʻo Hawaiian, nui ka poʻe lele me mākou kēlā lā, kēia lā,” wahi a Mālia Kruger, he kuene mokulele ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi hoʻi ma ka Hui Mokulele ʻo Hawaiian. “A no laila ka hiki ke hoʻomau i ka mālama i kēia ʻano holo ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi a ʻoi aku ka poʻe e lohe nei i ka ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi, a he lanakila kēlā.”

“Our Hawaiian language flights are a great way to normalize the Hawaiian language,” said flight attendant Mālia Kruger, who worked yesterday’s ʻōlelo Hawai‘i flights. “We have hundreds of kamaʻāina and malihini (new) guests that fly with us every day so it’s a way for us to reach a broader community and get their ears used to hearing the language of our land.”

Throughout the month, Hawaiian will feature stories of its ʻohana who are fluent in ʻōlelo Hawai‘i and incorporate the language into their daily lives both at work and at home with their families. Their stories will be shared in a video series on our social media channels. As a fun way to engage viewers, the airline launched a weekly social media sweepstakes to encourage followers to post videos of themselves using ʻōlelo Hawai‘i for a chance to win ʻōlelo Hawai‘i collection items.

About Hawaiian Airlines

Hawaiian^® has led all U.S. carriers in on-time performance for each of the past 16 years (2004-2019) 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. In 2019, Hawaiian offered nonstop flights between Hawai‘i and more U.S. gateway cities (13) than any other airline, along with service connecting the islands with Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, American Samoa and Tahiti. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, Hawaiian is offering an adjusted schedule of daily flights within the Hawaiian Islands, and between Hawai‘i and the U.S. mainland as well as Japan and South Korea.

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.

Seattle employee stays “grounded” through kindness and awareness

February 1, 2021
Company
Ali Garbino
3 min read

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Do you ever just meet someone whose smile and positive energy makes your heart happy? That’s Travion Smith, 31, a ground service agent in Seattle, who always delights his teammates and guests at Horizon Air, Alaska’s regional airline.When asked how he celebrates Black History Month, Smith says “awareness.”

“What I want people to take from this month is awareness. If you’re trying to learn about another culture or what’s happening to another culture throughout the years, don’t let that be something that you just do for a month,” Smith said. “There’s hundreds of years of history to explore. I’m always surprised by what I don’t know—I swear I learn something new every year.”

**Why do you wear a mask that says ‘Be Kind’?** “Wearing a mask is courteous to others—minding other’s safety. Being kind and wearing your mask, same difference,” said Smith.

Smith, originally from Long Beach, California, joined the airline biz a few years ago so he could work outside in the beautiful PNW and easily visit his family in California—his favorite place to fly.

**What has it been like working during the pandemic?** “It was a little scary at first but safety is key and we really got to see how important our jobs are,” said Smith. “It’s so important we’re able to work, connect people and transport goods.”

Smith is one of 3,500 employees at Horizon Air who has worked tirelessly to run a safe airline this past year. He is also a team captain, which means he is responsible for leading his team in the operation with other employees while handling complex work environments, both in the air and on the ground.

“I love the employees that we have,” he said. “You have to treat everyone like family. You gotta understand that everyone has something going on. If we can all get along, if we’re all meshing together, the job is always easier.”

Kellie Nielsen, one of Smith’s co-workers, says “Tray is a hard worker and always willing to jump in to help where needed. And all the while doing it with a smile on his face.”

Tray Smith, Horizon Air Team Captain & Ground Service Agent in Seattle.

While Horizon has broad representation of diversity in all forms among its frontline workgroups, diversity decreases at the leadership levels. Horizon has committed to increasing diversity of its leadership team, a goal Smith supports. He says, having diversity among workgroups and throughout different ranks creates more relatability and perspectives and helps inform good decisions.

“When you see other races that are higher up, you think ‘oh, that could be me!’ Or ‘I could potentially be in that same situation and be up there with that person,’ so when you don’t see that, it feels out of reach.”

Learn more about Horizon and Alaska’s efforts to keep guests and employees safe.

Hawaiian Airlines, Inc. Announces Pricing and Upsizing of Offering by Loyalty and Brand Subsidiaries of Senior Secured Notes due 2026

January 28, 2021
releases
Hawaiian Airlines
5 min read

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HONOLULU , Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Hawaiian Airlines, Inc. (the "Company"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hawaiian Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: HA), today announced the pricing and upsizing of the previously announced unregistered offering by Hawaiian Brand Intellectual Property, Ltd. (the "Brand Issuer") and HawaiianMiles Loyalty, Ltd., (the "Loyalty Issuer" and, together with the Brand Issuer, the "Issuers"), each an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company.

The Issuers are expected to issue an aggregate of $1.2 billion in principal amount of 5.75% Senior Secured Notes due 2026 (the "Notes") on February 4, 2021 , subject to customary closing conditions. The offering was upsized to $1.2 billion from the originally announced aggregate principal amount of $800 million .

The Notes will be offered and sold only to persons reasonably believed to be qualified institutional buyers, as defined in, and in reliance on Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act") and to non-U.S. persons in offshore transactions outside the United States in reliance on Regulation S under the Securities Act. The Notes will not be registered under the Securities Act or any other securities laws of any jurisdiction and will not have the benefit of any exchange offer or other registration rights. The Notes may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from registration requirements.

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any of the Notes nor shall there be any sale of the Notes in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. This news release is being issued pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 135c under the Securities Act.

About Hawaiian Airlines

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 .

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that reflect the Company's current views with respect to certain current and future events and financial performance. Such forward-looking statements include, without limitation, the Company's business plans, the offering of the Notes, and statements as to other matters that do not relate strictly to historical facts or statements of assumptions underlying any of the foregoing. Words such as "expects," "anticipates," "projects," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates," variations of such words, and similar expressions are also intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are and will be subject to many risks, uncertainties and assumptions relating to the Company's operations and business environment, all of which may cause the Company's actual results to be materially different from any future results, expressed or implied, in these forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, the continuing and developing effects of the spread of COVID-19 on the Company's business operations and financial condition; whether the Company's cost-cutting plans related to the COVID-19 pandemic will be effective or sufficient; the duration of government-mandated and other restrictions on travel; the full effect that the quarantine, restrictions on travel and other measures to limit the spread of COVID-19 will have on demand for air travel in the markets in which the Company operates; fluctuations and the extent of declining demand for air transportation in the markets in which the Company operates; the Company's dependence on the tourism industry; the Company's ability to generate sufficient cash and manage its available cash; the Company's ability to accurately forecast economic volatility; macroeconomic developments; political developments; the price and availability of aircraft fuel; labor negotiations; regulatory determinations and related developments; competitive pressures, including the impact of industry capacity between North America and Hawai'i and interisland; changes in the Company's future capital needs; and foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations.

The risks, uncertainties and assumptions referred to above that could cause the Company's results to differ materially from the results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements also include the risks, uncertainties and assumptions discussed from time to time in the Company's other public filings and public announcements, including the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K and the Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, as well as other documents that may be filed by the Company from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements included in this document are based on information available to the Company on the date hereof. The Company does not undertake to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that may arise after the date hereof even if experience or future changes make it clear that any projected results expressed or implied herein will not be realized.

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SOURCE Hawaiian Airlines, Inc.

Hawaiian Airlines, Inc. Announces Launch of Offering by Loyalty and Brand Subsidiaries of $800,000,000 Senior Secured Notes due 2026

January 26, 2021
releases
Hawaiian Airlines
5 min read

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HONOLULU , Jan. 26, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Hawaiian Airlines, Inc. (the "Company"), a wholly owned subsidiary of Hawaiian Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: HA), today announced the launch of an unregistered offering of $800 million in aggregate principal amount of Senior Secured Notes due 2026 (the "Notes") by two newly-formed subsidiary Issuers (as defined below), subject to market and other conditions.

The Notes will be offered by Hawaiian Brand Intellectual Property, Ltd., an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company (the "Brand Issuer"), and HawaiianMiles Loyalty, Ltd., an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company (the "Loyalty Issuer" and, together with the Brand Issuer, the "Issuers").

The Issuers intend to lend the net proceeds from the offering of the Notes to the Company, after depositing a portion of such proceeds in a reserve account. The final terms and amounts of the Notes are subject to market and other conditions and may be materially different than expectations.

The Notes are guaranteed by the Company, Hawaiian Holdings, Inc., and certain subsidiaries of the Company. The Notes will be secured by, among other things, (a) a first priority lien on the core assets of the Company's HawaiianMiles loyalty program (including the intellectual property required or necessary to operate the loyalty program) and (b) substantially all of the Company's other brand intellectual property.

The Notes will be offered and sold only to persons reasonably believed to be qualified institutional buyers, as defined in, and in reliance on Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act") and to non-U.S. persons in offshore transactions outside the United States in reliance on Regulation S under the Securities Act. The Notes will not be registered under the Securities Act or any other securities laws of any jurisdiction and will not have the benefit of any exchange offer or other registration rights. The Notes may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from registration requirements.

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any of the Notes nor shall there be any sale of the Notes in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. This news release is being issued pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 135c under the Securities Act.

About Hawaiian Airlines
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 .

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that reflect the Company's current views with respect to certain current and future events and financial performance. Such forward-looking statements include, without limitation, the Company's business plans, the offering of the Notes, and statements as to other matters that do not relate strictly to historical facts or statements of assumptions underlying any of the foregoing. Words such as "expects," "anticipates," "projects," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates," variations of such words, and similar expressions are also intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are and will be subject to many risks, uncertainties and assumptions relating to the Company's operations and business environment, all of which may cause the Company's actual results to be materially different from any future results, expressed or implied, in these forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, the continuing and developing effects of the spread of COVID-19 on the Company's business operations and financial condition; whether the Company's cost-cutting plans related to the COVID-19 pandemic will be effective or sufficient; the duration of government-mandated and other restrictions on travel; the full effect that the quarantine, restrictions on travel and other measures to limit the spread of COVID-19 will have on demand for air travel in the markets in which the Company operates; fluctuations and the extent of declining demand for air transportation in the markets in which the Company operates; the Company's dependence on the tourism industry; the Company's ability to generate sufficient cash and manage its available cash; the Company's ability to accurately forecast economic volatility; macroeconomic developments; political developments; the price and availability of aircraft fuel; labor negotiations; regulatory determinations and related developments; competitive pressures, including the impact of industry capacity between North America and Hawai'i and interisland; changes in the Company's future capital needs; and foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations.

The risks, uncertainties and assumptions referred to above that could cause the Company's results to differ materially from the results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements also include the risks, uncertainties and assumptions discussed from time to time in the Company's other public filings and public announcements, including the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K and the Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, as well as other documents that may be filed by the Company from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements included in this document are based on information available to the Company on the date hereof. The Company does not undertake to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that may arise after the date hereof even if experience or future changes make it clear that any projected results expressed or implied herein will not be realized.

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SOURCE Hawaiian Airlines, Inc.

Hawaiian Holdings Reports 2020 Fourth Quarter and Full Year Financial Results

January 26, 2021
releases
Hawaiian Airlines
27 min read

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HONOLULU , Jan. 26, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Hawaiian Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: HA) (the "Company"), parent company of Hawaiian Airlines, Inc. ("Hawaiian"), today reported its financial results for the fourth quarter and full year 2020.

Fourth Quarter 2020 – Key Financial Metrics
	GAAP	YoY Change	Adjusted	YoY Change
Net Loss	$(162.6)M	$(212.3)M	$(172.8)M	$(218.8)M
Diluted EPS	$(3.50)	$(4.57)	$(3.71)	$(4.70)
Pre-tax Margin	(152.8)%	(162.4) pts.	(145.2)%	(154.1) pts.

Full Year 2020 – Key Financial Metrics
	GAAP	YoY Change	Adjusted	YoY Change
Net Loss	$(510.9)M	$(734.9)M	$(551.0)M	$(769.9)M
Diluted EPS	$(11.08)	$(15.79)	$(11.96)	$(16.56)
Pre-tax Margin	(82.9)%	(93.7) pts.	(87.2)%	(97.7) pts.

"While 2020 has been the most challenging year the airline industry has experienced, we are encouraged that the re-opening of Hawai'i to tourism through the state's pre-travel testing program and Hawaiian's successful testing partnerships have allowed us to begin the journey to recovery," said Peter Ingram, president and CEO of Hawaiian Airlines. "My colleagues inspire me every day with their resolve to persevere and emerge from the pandemic strongly as they navigate through challenges and create innovative solutions to position Hawaiian for long-term success. The negative impacts of COVID-19 will create a challenging beginning of 2021, but we are confident that the structural pieces are in place for a sustained recovery."

Statistical data, as well as a reconciliation of the reported non-GAAP financial measures, can be found in the accompanying tables.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

As of December 31, 2020 the Company had:

Unrestricted cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments of $864 million .
Outstanding debt and finance lease obligations of $1.3 billion .
Air traffic liability of $534 million .

In January 2021 , the Company applied to participate in the Payroll Support Program Extension program (the "PSP Extension"), part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, and expects to receive approximately $168 million in funds through the program.

Fourth Quarter 2020

On October 15, 2020 , the Company reached an important inflection point in its recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic with the re-opening of Hawai'i to tourism through the launch of the state of Hawai'i's pre-travel testing program, which allows guests to avoid quarantine with evidence of a negative COVID-19 test, subject to certain island-specific requirements.

During the fourth quarter, the Company reinstated non-stop service from Honolulu to Las Vegas , Phoenix , San Jose , Oakland , New York and Boston , restoring service to all of its pre-pandemic origin points on the U.S. mainland, as well as non-stop service from Honolulu to Tokyo-Haneda, Japan ; Osaka, Japan ; and Seoul, South Korea . While the Company doubled its capacity as compared to the third quarter of 2020, its capacity was down 72 percent compared to the same period in 2019.

As testing is key to the resumption of Hawai'i travel, the Company launched an array of testing options for travelers, including access to mail-in test kits and proprietary drive-through testing labs in select U.S. mainland gateways.

To increase liquidity, the Company raised approximately $41 million in net proceeds through the sale of approximately 2.1 million shares of common stock under the Company's at-the-market offering program (ATM Program) during the fourth quarter. The Company may sell up to 5 million shares in total under the ATM Program.

On October 1, 2020 , the Company implemented both permanent and extended voluntary leave programs with each of its workgroups. In total, the Company reduced its workforce by approximately 2,400 employees, or more than 32 percent of all employees, of which approximately 2,100 were through voluntary means. As of January 26, 2021 , all employees who were subject to an involuntary furlough between October 1, 2020 and January 15, 2021 have been sent recall notices pursuant to the PSP Extension.

In October 2020 , the Company executed an amendment with the U.S. Treasury increasing the total amount of the CARES Act Economic Relief Program (ERP) loan under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) from $420 million to $622 million , of which $577 million is undrawn. The Company has until May 28, 2021 to determine how much of the remaining ERP funds to borrow.

In October 2020 , the Company reached an agreement with Boeing to delay 787-9 deliveries under its purchase agreement for 10 aircraft. The Company expects to take delivery of 787-9 aircraft from 2022 to 2026 with its first aircraft to be delivered in September 2022 .

Guest Experience

During the fourth quarter, the Company continued its enhanced cleaning procedures and guest-facing protocols in an effort to minimize the risk of transmission of COVID-19, including:

Performing enhanced aircraft cleaning between flights and during overnight parking, including recurring electrostatic spraying of all aircraft.
Frequent cleaning and disinfecting of counters and self-service check-in kiosks in airports.
Ensuring hand sanitizers are readily available for guests at airports we serve.
Requiring guests and guest facing employees to wear a face mask or covering, with guests required to wear masks from check-in to deplaning (except when eating or drinking on board).
Modifying boarding and deplaning processes.
Modifying in-flight service to minimize close interactions between crew members and guests.
Eliminating change fees on all domestic and international flights in order to provide guests with travel flexibility across the Company's network.

During the first quarter of 2021, the Company, in coordination with the state of Hawai'i, will implement the Hawai'i Pre-Clear Program across its mainland network to improve the arrivals process for its guests by validating the state's pre-travel testing requirement prior to departure.

Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance

In December 2020 , the Company published its inaugural Corporate Kuleana Report outlining its progress advancing various environmental, social and governance (ESG) initiatives. A link to the report can be found through the Investor Relations, Corporate Responsibility section of Hawaiian's website.

Among key environmental accomplishments, the Company lowered its pre-pandemic carbon emissions while increasing flight operations in 2018 and 2019. In 2019, Hawaiian increased Available Seat Miles (ASMs) by 2.1 percent and Revenue Passenger Miles (RPMs) by 3.6 percent while reducing CO2 greenhouse gas emissions by 1.4 percent. When adjusted for year-over-year growth in flying, as measured by RPMs, Hawaiian reduced its CO2 emissions by 4.8 percent during this period.

Multibillion-dollar fleet modernization investments and state-of-the-art flight programs and strategies have allowed Hawaiian to lower jet fuel burn by approximately 8.5 million gallons annually between 2015 and 2019. This decline in jet fuel burn has reduced CO2 emissions by 75,540 metric tons, or the equivalent of removing, on average, more than 16,000 cars from the roads, annually in this period. Hawaiian has also cut energy use at its headquarters by approximately five percent between 2016 and 2018 through motion sensors, LED lighting and tinted windows. In partnership with Carbon Lighthouse, Hawaiian aims to lower energy consumption at its Airport Center building by approximately 24 percent by the end of 2021. In February 2020 , Hawaiian became the first U.S. airline to join the U.S. Department of Energy's Better Buildings Challenge, committing to a 20 percent reduction in electricity use by 2026.

First Quarter 2021 Outlook

The Company announced on December 8, 2020 that it will launch four new routes in March and April 2021 ; non-stop flights from Honolulu to Austin, Texas ; Orlando, Florida , and Ontario , California as well as a new flight from Long Beach, California to Maui .

The Company expects its first quarter 2021 capacity to be down about 50 percent compared to the first quarter of 2019, with the state of Hawai'i's pre-travel testing program anticipated to remain in place throughout the first quarter.

The Company expects its full year 2021 capital expenditures to be approximately $50 – $70 million .

Statistical information, as well as a reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial measures, can be found in the accompanying tables.

Investor Conference Call

Hawaiian Holdings' quarterly and full year earnings conference call is scheduled to begin today ( January 26, 2021 ) at 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time ( USA ). The conference call will be broadcast live over the Internet. Investors may listen to the live audio webcast on the investor relations section of the Company's website at HawaiianAirlines.com . For those who are not available for the live webcast, the call will be archived and available for 90 days on the investor relations section of the Company's website.

About Hawaiian Airlines

Hawaiian® has led all U.S. carriers in on-time performance from 2004-2019 as reported by the U.S. Department of Transportation. U.S. DOT results for 2020 will be reported in February 2021 . 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. In 2019, Hawaiian offered non-stop flights between Hawai'i and more U.S. gateway cities (13) than any other airline, along with service connecting the islands with Japan , South Korea , Australia , New Zealand , American Samoa and Tahiti. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, Hawaiian is offering an adjusted schedule of daily flights within the Hawaiian Islands and between Hawai'i and the U.S. mainland as well as Japan and South Korea .

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 .

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that reflect the Company's current views with respect to certain current and future events and financial performance. Such forward-looking statements include, without limitation, the Company's ability and timing to rebuild its business from the impacts of COVID-19 pandemic; the impact on the Company's business of the reopening of the state of Hawai'i to tourism through the state's COVID-19 pre-travel testing program and the Company's testing partnerships; funds expected to be received by the Company under the PSP Extension; recommencement of the Company's ATM Program; the Company's future borrowing under the ERP; the Company's expectations related to the delivery and timing of its Boeing 787-9 aircraft purchases; implementation of the state of Hawai'i's Pre-Clear Program; the Company's reduction of electricity use under the U.S. Department of Energy's Better Buildings Challenge; the Company's outlook for the first fiscal quarter and fiscal year 2021, including expectations regarding capacity and capital expenditures, and statements as to other matters that do not relate strictly to historical facts or statements of assumptions underlying any of the foregoing. Words such as "expects," "anticipates," "projects," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates," variations of such words, and similar expressions are also intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are and will be subject to many risks, uncertainties and assumptions relating to the Company's operations and business environment, all of which may cause the Company's actual results to be materially different from any future results, expressed or implied, in these forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, the continuing and developing effects of the spread of COVID-19 on the Company's business operations and financial condition; whether the Company's cost-cutting plans related to the COVID-19 pandemic will be effective or sufficient; the duration of government-mandated and other restrictions on travel; the full effect that the quarantine, restrictions on travel and other measures to limit the spread of COVID-19 will have on demand for air travel in the markets in which the Company operates; fluctuations and the extent of declining demand for air transportation in the markets in which the Company operates; the Company's dependence on the tourism industry; the Company's ability to generate sufficient cash and manage its available cash; the Company's ability to accurately forecast economic volatility; macroeconomic developments; political developments; the price and availability of aircraft fuel; labor negotiations; regulatory determinations and related developments; competitive pressures, including the impact of industry capacity between North America and Hawai'i and interisland; changes in the Company's future capital needs; and foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations.

The risks, uncertainties and assumptions referred to above that could cause the Company's results to differ materially from the results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements also include the risks, uncertainties and assumptions discussed from time to time in the Company's other public filings and public announcements, including the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K and the Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, as well as other documents that may be filed by the Company from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements included in this document are based on information available to the Company on the date hereof. The Company does not undertake to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that may arise after the date hereof even if experience or future changes make it clear that any projected results expressed or implied herein will not be realized.

Table 1. Hawaiian Holdings, Inc. Consolidated Statements of Operations (in thousands, except for per share data) (unaudited)

	Three Months Ended December 31,						Twelve Months Ended December 31,
	2020		2019		% Change		2020		2019		% Change
	(in thousands, except per share data)
Operating Revenue:
Passenger	$	91,791	$	648,782	(85.9)	%	$	664,799	$	2,597,772	(74.4)	%
Other	57,892		59,355		(2.5)	%	180,014		234,456		(23.2)	%
Total	149,683		708,137		(78.9)	%	844,813		2,832,228		(70.2)	%
Operating Expenses:
Wages and benefits	149,833		185,659		(19.3)	%	387,910		723,656		(46.4)	%
Aircraft fuel, including taxes and delivery	26,338		137,283		(80.8)	%	161,363		542,573		(70.3)	%
Aircraft rent	26,770		27,131		(1.3)	%	103,890		118,904		(12.6)	%
Maintenance materials and repairs	28,504		67,233		(57.6)	%	121,571		249,772		(51.3)	%
Aircraft and passenger servicing	11,557		43,972		(73.7)	%	58,016		164,275		(64.7)	%
Commissions and other selling	11,453		33,618		(65.9)	%	46,297		130,216		(64.4)	%
Depreciation and amortization	36,149		39,632		(8.8)	%	151,665		158,906		(4.6)	%
Other rentals and landing fees	16,209		33,845		(52.1)	%	73,808		129,622		(43.1)	%
Purchased services	22,044		33,261		(33.7)	%	99,050		131,567		(24.7)	%
Special items	5,704		—		100.0	%	184,111		—		100.0	%
Other	24,600		37,219		(33.9)	%	104,743		155,260		(32.5)	%
Total	359,161		638,853		(43.8)	%	1,492,424		2,504,751		(40.4)	%
Operating Income (Loss)	(209,478)		69,284		(402.3)	%	(647,611)		327,477		(297.8)	%
Nonoperating Income (Expense):
Other nonoperating special items	1,329		—				(5,682)		—
Interest expense and amortization of debt discounts and issuance costs	(13,827)		(6,596)				(40,439)		(27,864)
Interest income	1,003		3,378				8,731		12,583
Capitalized interest	653		779				3,236		4,492
Other components of net periodic benefit cost	711		(920)				1,300		(3,864)
Gains (losses) on fuel derivatives	3		494				(6,930)		(6,709)
Other, net	(9,153)		1,490				(12,657)		(1,119)
Total	(19,281)		(1,375)				(52,441)		(22,481)
Income (Loss) Before Income Taxes	(228,759)		67,909				(700,052)		304,996
Income tax expense (benefit)	(66,199)		18,192				(189,117)		81,012
Net Income (Loss)	$	(162,560)	$	49,717			$	(510,935)	$	223,984
Net Income (Loss) Per Common Stock Share:
Basic	$	(3.50)	$	1.07			$	(11.08)	$	4.72
Diluted	$	(3.50)	$	1.07			$	(11.08)	$	4.71
Weighted Average Number of Common Stock Shares Outstanding:
Basic	46,458		46,402				46,100		47,435
Diluted	46,458		46,658				46,100		47,546
Cash Dividends Declared Per Common Share	$	—	$	0.12			$	0.12	$	0.48

Table 2. Hawaiian Holdings, Inc. Selected Statistical Data (in thousands, except as otherwise indicated) (unaudited)

	Three Months Ended December 31,								Twelve Months Ended December 31,
	2020			2019			% Change		2020			2019			% Change
	(in thousands, except as otherwise indicated)
Scheduled Operations (a) :
Revenue passengers flown	480			2,893			(83.4)	%	3,353			11,737			(71.4)	%
Revenue passenger miles (RPM)	569,608			4,520,090			(87.4)	%	4,558,045			17,808,913			(74.4)	%
Available seat miles (ASM)	1,431,771			5,242,919			(72.7)	%	7,527,383			20,568,476			(63.4)	%
Passenger revenue per RPM (Yield)	16.11		¢	14.35		¢	12.3	%	14.59		¢	14.59		¢	—	%
Passenger load factor (RPM/ASM)	39.8		%	86.2		%	(46.4)	pt.	60.6		%	86.6		%	(26.0)	pt.
Passenger revenue per ASM (PRASM)	6.41		¢	12.37		¢	(48.2)	%	8.83		¢	12.63		¢	(30.1)	%
Total Operations (a) :
Revenue passengers flown	485			2,898			(83.3)	%	3,362			11,751			(71.4)	%
RPM	580,977			4,526,797			(87.2)	%	4,576,623			17,826,887			(74.3)	%
ASM	1,453,062			5,255,202			(72.4)	%	7,560,486			20,596,711			(63.3)	%
Passenger load factor (RPM/ASM)	40.0		%	86.1		%	(46.1)	pt.	60.5		%	86.6		%	(26.1)	pt.
Operating revenue per ASM (RASM)	10.30		¢	13.47		¢	(23.5)	%	11.17		¢	13.75		¢	(18.8)	%
Operating cost per ASM (CASM)	24.72		¢	12.16		¢	103.3	%	19.74		¢	12.16		¢	62.3	%
CASM excluding aircraft fuel and non- recurring items (b)	22.51		¢	9.54		¢	136.0	%	18.35		¢	9.54		¢	92.3	%
Aircraft fuel expense per ASM (c)	1.82		¢	2.62		¢	(30.5)	%	2.13		¢	2.62		¢	(18.7)	%
Revenue block hours operated	10,968			56,246			(80.5)	%	82,711			218,801			(62.2)	%
Gallons of jet fuel consumed	21,250			68,454			(69.0)	%	106,225			270,001			(60.7)	%
Average cost per gallon of jet fuel (actual) (c)	$	1.24		$	2.01		(38.3)	%	$	1.52		$	2.01		(24.4)	%
Economic fuel cost per gallon (c)(d)	$	1.29		$	2.05		(37.1)	%	$	1.60		$	2.06		(22.3)	%


(a)	Includes the operations of the Company's contract carrier under a capacity purchase agreement. Total Operations includes both scheduled and chartered operations.
(b)	See Table 4 for a reconciliation of GAAP operating expenses to operating expenses excluding aircraft fuel and non-recurring items.
(c)	Includes applicable taxes and fees.
(d)	See Table 3 for a reconciliation of GAAP fuel costs to economic fuel costs.

Table 3.
Hawaiian Holdings, Inc.
Economic Fuel Expense
(in thousands, except per-gallon amounts) (unaudited)

The Company believes that economic fuel expense is a good measure of the effect of fuel prices on its business as it most closely approximates the net cash outflow associated with the purchase of fuel for its operations in a period. The Company defines economic fuel expense as GAAP fuel expense plus losses/(gains) realized through actual cash (receipts)/payments received from or paid to hedge counterparties for fuel hedge derivative contracts settled during the period.

	Three Months Ended December 31,						Twelve Months Ended December 31,
	2020		2019		% Change		2020		2019		% Change
	(in thousands, except per-gallon amounts)
Aircraft fuel expense, including taxes and delivery	$	26,338	$	137,283	(80.8)	%	$	161,363	$	542,573	(70.3)	%
Realized losses on settlement of fuel derivative instruments	1,137		3,108		(63.4)	%	9,035		12,403		(27.2)	%
Economic fuel expense	$	27,475	$	140,391	(80.4)	%	$	170,398	$	554,976	(69.3)	%
Fuel gallons consumed	21,250		68,454		(69.0)	%	106,225		270,001		(60.7)	%
Economic fuel costs per gallon	$	1.29	$	2.05	(37.1)	%	$	1.60	$	2.06	(22.3)	%

Table 4.
Hawaiian Holdings, Inc.
Non-GAAP Financial Reconciliation (unaudited)

The Company evaluates its financial performance utilizing various GAAP and non-GAAP financial measures, including net income, diluted net income per share, CASM, PRASM, RASM, Passenger Revenue per RPM, EBITDAR, and pre-tax margin. Pursuant to Regulation G, the Company has included the following reconciliation of reported non-GAAP financial measures to comparable financial measures reported on a GAAP basis. The adjustments are described below:

During the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2020 , the effective tax rate included a tax benefit of $15.9 million and $45.4 million , respectively, resulting from the rate differential between the prevailing tax rate of 21% during the years that generated net operating losses and the previous tax rate of 35% that was in effect during the years to which net operating losses were carried back as a result of the enactment of the CARES Act.
During the twelve months ended December 31, 2020 , the Company recognized $240.6 million in contra-expense related to grant proceeds from the PSP. The grant proceeds were recognized in proportion to estimated wages and benefits expense over the period the PSP covers. The Company utilized all proceeds from the PSP as of December 31, 2020 .
Changes in fair value of fuel derivative contracts, net of tax, are based on market prices for open contracts as of the end of the reporting period, and include the unrealized amounts of fuel derivatives (not designated as hedges) that will settle in future periods and the reversal of prior period unrealized amounts.
Changes in fair value of foreign currency derivative contracts, net of tax, are based on market prices for open contracts as of the end of the reporting period, including the unrealized amounts of foreign currency derivatives (not designated as hedges) that will settle in future periods and the reversal of prior period unrealized amounts.
Unrealized loss (gain) on foreign debt is based on fluctuation in exchange rates and the measurement of foreign-denominated debt to our functional currency.
The Company recorded the following as special items:
- During the three months ended March 31, 2020 , a charge of $20.2 million was recorded for the ratification of a collective bargaining agreement with the Association of Flight Attendants in April 2020 (related to service prior to January 1, 2020 ).
- During the three months ended March 31, 2020 , a special charge of $106.7 million was recorded for goodwill impairment resulting from the decline in the market value of the Company's equity (i.e., share price), and the Company's inability to support the carrying value of goodwill on its financial statements.
- During the three months ended June 30, 2020 , an impairment charge of $27.5 million was recorded related to the Company's ATR-42 and ATR-72 fleets. An additional impairment charge of $3.4 million was recorded related to the Company's commercial real estate subsidiary.
- During the three months ended June 30, 2020 , the Company recorded $3.1 million of charges related to write-downs of projects permanently suspended as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
- During the three months ended September 30, 2020 , the Company recorded $24.5 million in special items related to its voluntary and involuntary separation programs, of which $17.5 million was recorded as an operating special item related to severance and benefits and $7.0 million was recorded as a non-operating special item related to termination benefits and curtailment loss.
- During the three months ended December 31, 2020 , the Company recorded long-lived asset impairment of approximately $5.4 million , comprised of an additional write-down of its ATR-42 and ATR-72 fleet of approximately $4.9 million as a result of ongoing market uncertainty attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic and the write-off of approximately $0.5 million in capitalized software projects that were permanently suspended in response to the continuing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, the Company recorded $0.3 million related to additional costs for the finalization of the voluntary and involuntary separation programs discussed above.
- During the three months ended December 31, 2020 , the Company completed its accounting for voluntary and involuntary separation programs initiated in the third quarter of 2020, resulting in the reversal of non-operating special items of approximately $1.3 million .

The Company believes that adjusting for the impact of an effective tax rate differential, the receipt of grant proceeds, changes in fair value of fuel derivative contracts and foreign currency derivative contracts, fluctuations in foreign exchange rates, special items, and the sale of aircraft and aircraft equipment helps investors better analyze the Company's operational performance and compare its results to other airlines in the periods presented.

	Three Months Ended December 31,								Twelve Months Ended December 31,
	2020				2019				2020				2019
	Total		Diluted Per Share		Total		Diluted Per Share		Total		Diluted Per Share		Total		Diluted Per Share
	(in thousands, except per share data)
GAAP net income (loss), as reported	$	(162,560)	$	(3.50)	$	49,717	$	1.07	$	(510,935)	$	(11.08)	$	223,984	$	4.71
CARES Act – carryback of additional NOLs	(15,879)		(0.34)		—		—		(45,416)		(0.99)		—		—
CARES Act grant recognition	—		—		—		—		(240,648)		(5.22)		—		—
Changes in fair value of fuel derivative instruments	(1,140)		(0.02)		(3,602)		(0.08)		(2,105)		(0.05)		(5,694)		(0.13)
Unrealized loss on non- designated foreign exchange positions	904		0.02		—		—		1,327		0.03		—		—
Change in unrealized loss (gain) on foreign debt	7,218		0.16		(1,558)		(0.03)		14,759		0.32		696		0.02
Gain on sale of aircraft	—		—		—		—		—		—		(1,948)		(0.04)
Special items	5,704		0.12		—		—		184,111		3.99		—		—
Nonoperating special items	(1,329)		(0.03)		—		—		5,682		0.12		—		—
Tax effect of adjustments	(5,765)		(0.12)		1,370		0.03		42,252		0.92		1,845		0.04
Adjusted Net Income (Loss)	$	(172,847)	$	(3.71)	$	45,927	$	0.99	$	(550,973)	$	(11.96)	$	218,883	$	4.60

	Three months ended December 31,				Twelve months ended December 31,
	2020		2019		2020		2019
	(in thousands)
Income (Loss) Before Income Taxes	$	(228,759)	$	67,909	$	(700,052)	$	304,996
CARES Act grant recognition	—		—		(240,648)		—
Changes in fair value of fuel derivative instruments	(1,140)		(3,602)		(2,105)		(5,694)
Unrealized loss on non-designated foreign exchange positions	904		—		1,327		—
Change in unrealized loss (gain) on foreign debt	7,218		(1,558)		14,759		696
Gain on sale of aircraft	—		—		—		(1,948)
Special items	5,704		—		184,111		—
Nonoperating special items	(1,329)		—		5,682		—
Adjusted Income (Loss) Before Income Taxes	$	(217,402)	$	62,749	$	(736,926)	$	298,050


	Three months ended December 31,				Twelve months ended December 31,
	2020		2019		2020		2019
Net Income (Loss) before Taxes	$	(228,759)	$	67,909	$	(700,052)	$	304,996
Depreciation & Amortization	36,149		39,632		151,665		158,906
Aircraft Rent	26,770		27,131		103,890		118,904
Interest and amortization of debt	(13,827)		(6,596)		(40,439)		(27,864)
EBITDAR, as reported	(152,013)		141,268		(404,058)		610,670
Add: CARES Act grant recognition	—		—		(240,648)		—
Add: changes in fair value of fuel derivative instruments	(1,140)		(3,602)		(2,105)		(5,694)
Add: unrealized loss on non-designated foreign exchange positions	904		—		1,327		—
Add: unrealized loss (gain) on foreign debt	7,218		(1,558)		14,759		696
Add: gain on sale of aircraft	—		—		—		(1,948)
Add: special items	5,704		—		184,111		—
Add: nonoperating special items	(1,329)		—		5,682		—
Adjusted EBITDAR	$	(140,656)	$	136,108	$	(440,932)	$	603,724

Operating Costs per Available Seat Mile (CASM)
The Company has separately listed in the table below its fuel costs per ASM and non-GAAP unit costs, excluding fuel and non-recurring items. These amounts are included in CASM, but for internal purposes the Company consistently uses cost metrics that exclude fuel and non-recurring items (if applicable) to measure and monitor its costs.

	Three Months Ended December 31,						Twelve Months Ended December 31,
	2020			2019			2020			2019
	(in thousands, except CASM data)
GAAP operating expenses	$	359,161		$	638,853		$	1,492,424		$	2,504,751
Aircraft fuel, including taxes and delivery	(26,338)			(137,283)			(161,363)			(542,573)
CARES Act PSP grant recognition	—			—			240,648			—
Gain on sale of aircraft	—			—			—			1,948
Special items	(5,704)			—			(184,111)			—
Adjusted operating expenses	$	327,119		$	501,570		$	1,387,598		$	1,964,126
Available Seat Miles	1,453,062			5,255,202			7,560,486			20,596,711
CASM—GAAP	24.72		¢	12.16		¢	19.74		¢	12.16		¢
Aircraft fuel, including taxes and delivery	(1.82)			(2.62)			(2.13)			(2.62)
CARES Act PSP grant recognition	—			—			3.18			—
Gain on sale of aircraft	—			—			—			0.00
Special items	(0.39)			—			(2.44)			—
Adjusted CASM	22.51		¢	9.54		¢	18.35		¢	9.54		¢

Pre-tax margin
The Company excludes unrealized (gains) losses from fuel derivative contracts and foreign debt, losses on the sale of aircraft and non-recurring items from pre-tax margin for the same reasons as described above.

	Three months ended December 31,				Twelve months ended December 31,
	2020		2019		2020		2019
Pre-Tax Margin, as reported	(152.8)	%	9.6	%	(82.9)	%	10.8	%
Add: CARES Act grant recognition	—		—		(28.5)		—
Add: changes in fair value of fuel derivative instruments	(0.7)		(0.5)		(0.2)		(0.2)
Add: unrealized loss on non-designated foreign exchange positions	0.6		—		0.2		—
Add: unrealized loss (gain) on foreign debt	4.8		(0.2)		1.7		—
Add: gain on sale of aircraft	—		—		—		(0.1)
Add: special items	3.8		—		21.8		—
Add: nonoperating special items	(0.9)		—		0.7		—
Adjusted Pre-Tax Margin	(145.2)	%	8.9	%	(87.2)	%	10.5	%

View original content to download multimedia: http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hawaiian-holdings-reports-2020-fourth-quarter-and-full-year-financial-results-301215500.html

SOURCE Hawaiian Holdings, Inc.

What does travel look like in 2021? Your checklist & must do’s before you fly

January 26, 2021
Stories
Ali Garbino
5 min read

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COVID-19 has been a wild ride for all of us this past year. If you plan to get out of the house and travel soon, Alaska has tips to make your next flight infinitely easier and carefree.

First things first fly healthy.

Alaska guests must be COVID negative and have not been around someone who has tested positive for the virus within 72 hours of travel. This is for the safety of all guests and employees. Need to postpone your trip? Our peace of mind options allow you to cancel or change (most) reservations without a fee.

Pack masks, sanitizer and patience.

Aside from the obvious packing to-dos like clothes, toothbrushes and shoes, don’t leave without the pandemic essentials: masks, hand sanitizer, cleaning wipes and the patience to respect/maintain physical distancing when boarding/exiting the aircraft, at baggage claim and customs. Remember: All travelers must wear a mask that covers their nose and mouth for the entire flight and in the airport. Learn how to become BFFs with your mask.

Do what you can to take care of yourself & others.

While Alaska is bringing you Next-Level Care, there are still things you can do to stay safe during your journey. According to the CDC, National Safety Council and World Health Organization:

Cover your mouth and nose with a cloth face cover when around others.
Wash your hands often – and thoroughly – with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, or use hand sanitizer (with at least 60% alcohol).
Avoid touching your nose, mouth and eyes.
Keep your distance, especially to those who are at a higher risk (older adults and people who have severe underlying medical conditions like obesity, diabetes, or heart or lung disease).
Clean and disinfect high-touch surface areas.

Some cities require COVID tests.

Keep in mind some places require a negative COVID test or quarantine. For instance, if you’re traveling from Las Vegas (which currently doesn’t have restrictions for incoming guests) to Maui or New York City—both Hawaii & New York State require incoming travelers to take a COVID-19 test 72 hours before travel or head straight to quarantine. You might also be asked to fill out a traveler health form, which will be collected at the airport upon your arrival. See the latest travel restrictions.

Know where to get tested.

Ask yourself if you know where to get a rapid test in your hometown or where to get one in the city you plan to visit? Even if you’re from a state that doesn’t require testing prior to re-entry, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Remember, you could still be positive yet show no signs or symptoms of COVID-19. So take a PCR or rapid test before you fly to protect fellow travelers and others around you. See Alaska’s testing partners.

Now’s not the time to let the universe make plans.

Spontaneity is a thing of the past—we get it, sometimes it’s great to let your hair down & make up plans as you go. But right now, it’s too risky. If you happen to be flying to a city, consider what’s open and what safety protocols are in place—and make reservations in advance. Outdoor dining and activities are ideal.

Sip & cover if you drink or eat.

While you’re technically allowed to remove your mask to eat or drink on board, studies have shown wearing a mask is the best way to limit the risk of COVID-19. We recommend you sip & cover—when you’re done with your bite and/or had a refreshing sip reapply your mask for your safety and others around you. If your flight is relatively short (give or take five or six hours) try eating a hearty meal before you board & save for a smorgasbord when you land.

Utilize technology for a touch-free experience.

You don’t need a printed boarding pass anymore or to check your bags at a counter—simply download the Alaska Airlines app to get convenience at your fingertips. The Alaska app offers the following perks:

Check in and get your mobile boarding pass
Select and change your seats
Prepay for checked baggage
Print your own bag tags
Pre-order food and beverages on select flights
Check your flight status
Change your reservation
Get boarding notices and other travel updates
View and manage your travel receipts
Track your Mileage Plan™ balance
Join/Sign in Mileage Plan

Have anxiety? Alaska offers Headspace meditation.

Sit back, relax and ease your mind on any Alaska flight with Headspace, a feature on our inflight entertainment. There are sessions for kids, sleep and more to give you moments of mindfulness and casts to wind-down.

Mask up. Book now. Let’s go.

We believe it’s safe to fly––and experts agree. Our commitment to Next-Level Care means we’ve implemented 100+ ways to maintain the highest standard of safety throughout your travels, including mask requirements, enhanced cleaning, hospital-grade HEPA filters onboard and no change fees. Book your next adventure today at alaskaair.com.

Have more questions? Here are 10 Qs you might have about traveling again.

Hawaiian Airlines Reinforces Commitment to Effortless Travel with Pre-Clear Program

January 21, 2021
releases
Hawaiian Airlines
3 min read

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HONOLULU – Hawaiian Airlines has begun pre-clearing guests departing from select U.S. mainland cities to Hawai‘i under a program allowing travelers with a negative COVID-19 test to bypass the airport screening in Hawai‘i.

Hawaiian, which launched its Pre-Clear Program at San Francisco International Airport (SFO) last week, will expand it to Boston Logan International Airport (BOS), John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) Long Beach Airport (LGB) and Phoenix International Airport (PHX) beginning Jan. 29. The program will be added to the airline’s remaining North America destinations next month.

Visitors and returning Hawai‘i residents who meet the state of Hawai‘i’s pre-travel testing requirements to be exempt from quarantine 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. A printed copy of the negative results is also recommended.

“With the Pre-Clear Program, our guests will spend less time in line at the airport and more time safely enjoying Hawai‘i,” said Jeff Helfrick, vice president of airport operations at Hawaiian Airlines.

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

About Hawaiian Airlines

Hawaiian^® has led all U.S. carriers in on-time performance for each of the past 16 years (2004-2019) 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. In 2019, Hawaiian offered nonstop flights between Hawai‘i and more U.S. gateway cities (13) than any other airline, along with service connecting the islands with Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, American Samoa and Tahiti. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, Hawaiian is offering an adjusted schedule of daily flights within the Hawaiian Islands, and between Hawai‘i and the U.S. mainland as well as Japan and South Korea.

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 Holdings Announces 2020 Fourth Quarter and Full Year Conference Call

January 19, 2021
releases
Hawaiian Airlines
2 min read

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HONOLULU , Jan. 19, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Hawaiian Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: HA), parent company of Hawaiian Airlines, Inc. ("Hawaiian"), plans to report its fourth quarter and full year 2020 financial results after the market closes on Tuesday, January 26 , 2021. An investor conference call is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time that day.

The call will be open to all interested investors through a live audio webcast accessible in the Investor Relations section of Hawaiian's website at HawaiianAirlines.com . For those who are not able to listen to the live webcast, the call will be archived for 90 days on Hawaiian's website.

About Hawaiian Airlines

Hawaiian ^® has led all U.S. carriers in on-time performance for each of the past 16 years (2004-2019) 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. In 2019, Hawaiian offered nonstop flights between Hawai'i and more U.S. gateway cities (13) than any other airline, along with service connecting the islands with Japan , South Korea , Australia , New Zealand , American Samoa and Tahiti. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, Hawaiian is operating an adjusted schedule of daily flights within the Hawaiian Islands and between Hawai'i and the U.S. mainland as well as Japan and South Korea .

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 .

View original content to download multimedia: http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hawaiian-holdings-announces-2020-fourth-quarter-and-full-year-conference-call-301211090.html

SOURCE Hawaiian Holdings, Inc.

MLK’s legacy inspires Alaska employee nearly 60 years later

January 18, 2021
Community
Ali Garbino
5 min read

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Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. impacted Hilda Shepherd’s life before she was even born.

Fifty-seven years ago, Shepherd’s mother, Georgia, an accountant at the Pentagon, joined 250,000 people in front of the Lincoln Memorial to hear Dr. King deliver his “I Have A Dream” speech. Shepherd will always remember her ‘silently strong’ mother telling her about the experience of that moment.

“It’s something that will be a legacy in my family. We show up,” said Shepherd. “I’m proud of her. I hope my grandchildren can say ‘my great grandmother, my grandmother stood up for equality and I will too.’”

Hilda Shepherd poses for a portrait with her mom and brother-in-law in Anchorage, Alaska.

Born in the 1920s, Shepherd’s mother lived through some of the more difficult times in our history. Nearly two years after Dr. King’s speech at the March on Washington, segregation ended and Black Americans were given the right to vote. Dr. King’s words sparked not only hope in Shepherd’s mother that day but made a lasting impression on Hilda.

“It was just as important then as it is now,” Shepherd said. “For Black Americans to continue to strive for equity. It’s really important for the survival of our race to make sure that people understand that there are inequities. There are injustices.”

Shepherd has spent a lot of time reflecting this year. Thinking about where we’ve been and where we have to go.

“It’s been a very tender time in our society … This MLK 2021—the celebration of what he has done for us—means more for me then it ever has before because of all the things and emotions that have been stirred up in our country’s unrest and division this past year,” she said.

Shepherd began her career at Alaska Airlines in 1999 as a customer service agent in Anchorage, Alaska. She later transferred to Oakland, California, where she trained to become an aircraft mechanic. She continues to be a leader and pushes for diversity and racial equity within the company.

“You have to have a dream,” she said. “If you don’t have a dream, you won’t work as hard to make things happen.”

Hilda lined up with her eldest daughter and niece at midnight to get a front row spot for President Obama’s first inauguration. They waited for 16 hours in the cold to experience the historic moment of the first Black president being sworn into office. Hilda likens this experience to the one her mother witnessed many years prior at Dr. King’s speech. “It was a full-circle moment,” she said.

Hilda working on an aircraft when she was a mechanic.

After several years of working as an aircraft mechanic, Shepherd transferred to station operations, where she leads a behind-the-scenes team whose goal is to keep the operation running smoothly. She says a key to being a good leader is to make it easier for your team to be successful by removing obstacles—a crucial part of building racial equity in a company.

“We have to continue to make sure to honor Dr. King and the life that he led. We have to continue to strive for advancement. We’re not asking for anything above and beyond,” said Shepherd. “We’re just asking for basic human dignity and decency. Please respect and treat and honor us and create laws that say we are equal Americans. That’s all that anyone has ever asked for—nothing more, nothing less.”

At Alaska, we’ve been listening to and learning from our employees, reflecting – and taking a hard look and sharing our commitments to advance racial equity and justice at our company and in our communities. Shepherd and other leaders at Alaska recognize there is still a lot of work to be done, but we are taking steps with policies, education and training, recruiting, and community partnerships, and we recognize that it is a journey.

“We have a better point of view when we have a more diverse team,” she said. “If you have all one mindset, you can’t move the needle.”

“I don’t want the dream to ever die. I want the generations behind me to know how important it is to exercise their rights, their votes. To continue to strive for equality—to be treated as one would want their own to be treated,” Shepherd said. “For as long as I live, I’ll show up and keep spreading his message.”

Alaska’s D&I leaders pay tribute to Martin Luther King Jr.’s life and legacy

As we celebrate and honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Alaska Airlines employees came together to create this powerful 4-minute video, reading a passage from Dr. King’s 1963 speech to a crowd of 250,000 in front of the Lincoln Memorial. It continues to serve as a powerful reminder that we can all make a lasting impact on those around us.