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Health experts answer top questions

For the latest information and guidance related to the Coronavirus please visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.

This Q&A originally published March 20 – The question related to wearing a mask was updated June 17. 

We know that the HEPA filters in Alaska Airlines aircraft are robust and effective at filtering many pathogens from the air. But does this coronavirus float around in the air?

At this time, there is no evidence that the virus floats in the air leading to infection farther away. Current understanding about how the virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) spreads is largely based on what is known about similar coronaviruses. The virus is thought to spread mainly from person-to-person. 

  • Between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet). 
  • Through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes. 

It may be possible that a person can get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes, but this is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads. The virus is fragile and does not live long on surfaces.  

If I travel, what are some things I can do to prevent getting sick?

Great question!  Probably the most important thing you can do to prevent getting sick while traveling is to wash your hands frequently.  This means washing your hands not only before eating and after using the bathroom, but also multiple times throughout the day.  Another helpful recommendation is to wipe down high touch surfaces, like tray tables and arm rests. 

Are children or older adults more susceptible to the virus that causes COVID-19 compared with the general population?

There is a lot more to learn about this virus but so far it looks like it doesn’t peer to be very harmful for children.  For most healthy adults this infection may be more like the flu.  At the same time, it does seem to be much more dangerous for older adults and people who have medical issues with their hearts, lungs and kidneys or who may be immunosuppressed. 

How effective is wearing a mask?

The CDC, who advise the country on public health, recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain, such as grocery stores, pharmacies, and gas stations. Read more

Meet our doctors:

John Lynch, M.D., M.P.H., is a board-certified physician and medical director of Harborview’s Infection Control, Antibiotic Stewardship and Employee Health programs. Dr. Lynch is also a UW associate professor of Medicine and Allergy and Infectious Diseases. He earned his M.D. and M.P.H. from the University of Washington. He conducts research on healthcare-associated infections. At the UW School of is a board-certified physician and medical director of Harborview’s Infection Control, Antibiotic Stewardship and Employee Health programs. Dr. Lynch is also a UW associate professor of Medicine and Allergy and Infectious Diseases. He earned his M.D. and M.P.H. from the University of Washington. He conducts research on healthcare-associated infections. At the UW School of Medicine. 

Chloe Bryson-Cahn, MD has a master’s degree from the University of Washington School of Public Health and graduated from Temple University Lewis Katz School of Medicine. She completed a residency at UCLA Medical Center and currently practices at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, WA.

 

Hawaiian Airlines Consolidating Check-in Operations in Honolulu

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HONOLULU – Hawaiian Airlines is temporarily centralizing its entire check-in operations at Honolulu's Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) to Lobbies 2 and 3 in Terminal 1 beginning March 20.

Effective tomorrow, guests checking in for Hawaiian’s international flights will use Lobby 3, while guests on North America and Neighbor Island flights will check-in at Lobby 2.

The airline, which has been using Lobby 4 at Terminal 2 to check-in travelers to Japan, is temporarily vacating that space as it adjusts operations in response to declining travel demand caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We appreciate our guests’ patience and understanding as we navigate this extremely dynamic situation,” said Jeff Helfrick, vice president of airport operations at Hawaiian Airlines. “Consolidating our check-in operations allows us to continue offering the best guest experience to our guests while we adjust our network in the near term.”

Road signage reflecting the changes will be in place Friday morning.   

To ensure the health and safety of employees and guests, hand sanitizers have been made more broadly available throughout Hawaiian’s airport lobbies and offices. Self-service check-in kiosks and check-in counters are frequently cleaned and disinfected, and Hawaiian has partnered with the Hawaii State Department of Transportation to ensure hand sanitizers are readily available to travelers throughout HNL and at its airports statewide. Please visit https://www.hawaiianairlines.com/coronavirus to learn more.

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.

There’s no place like home: Alaska Airlines employees rally to help our guests fly

Over these recent tumultuous weeks, tens of thousands of guests have reached out to Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air for help with travel. Whether guests needed to reschedule long-awaited trips or were looking for guidance on how Alaska is keeping guests and employees safe from the novel coronavirus as they travel, our teams have worked hard to give their support. We’re in it together and are here for you.

Most guests are simply trying to find the best way home.

Our employees have been working around the clock, handling an unprecedented amount of phone calls and social-media queries. “It’s taken an all ‘hands-on-deck’ approach to deal with the increased volumes,” says Michael Roy, Alaska’s social-care program manager. He says the volume of requests has been 200% higher than normal. “Many of our agents have worked until midnight, only to wake up early the next morning to assist our guests.”

Our @AlaskaAir social care team is here for you 24/7. We love hearing from our guests when our team members get them where they need to go, especially when it’s home sweet home. Today, we’re sharing a few stories of instances where our remarkable teams helped people on their journeys.

Stories from guests shared with @AlaskaAir:

Stories shared by our teams:

San Francisco to Portland: “Going above and beyond: Our trainer, Maivan, deserves kudos for making sure a passenger who was traveling from overseas got back home to his family in Portland. She did her best to help him out and he was very happy. Total definition of the service framework. Go Maivan!”

Shared by Mary Ruth A., Alaska Airlines customer service agent, San Francisco, on March 16

Anchorage to Vancouver, B.C.: “Johnny from the Boise reservations team made it possible for a Croatian guest and two German guests on Canadian work visas to return from Anchorage to Vancouver, B.C., before emergency travel restrictions took effect in Canada. They had been dealing with weather delays on their journey among some other reservation snafus. Johnny’s work helped them get to Vancouver on time, and the guests were very appreciative. They would have had no way to get back to their jobs and homes in Canada had it not been fixed.”

Shared by Matt W., Alaska Airlines customer service agent, Anchorage, on March 16

Help during a crisis: “Alaska guest Vera sent an email sharing the amazing customer service she received from Daralyn L. in our reservations department. In Vera’s words: Daralyn was pleasant, knowledgeable and very helpful – and makes me want to support and use Alaska Airlines for my travel needs. I want to thank Daralyn and Alaska Air for taking care of me during a crisis situation.”

Shared by Karen U., Alaska Airlines customer care representative, Seattle, on March 19

San Francisco to Portland, Oregon: “My niece and I flew from SFO to PDX yesterday. Our flight attendant was Jose Antonio Ortiz. He was amazing! He’s such a treasure. He had us laughing and joking with him. It’s been a stressful few weeks for everyone and he made us forget that for a bit.”

Shared by Andre R., Alaska Airlines customer care representative, Seattle, on March 20

Hawaiian Airlines Reducing Flight Schedule Systemwide

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HONOLULU – Hawaiian Airlines is reducing its flight schedule systemwide by nearly 40 percent in April as the state of Hawai‘i deals with increasing COVID-19 cases and resulting government restrictions and pronouncements impacting travel.

Hawaiian remains focused on supporting its guests’ travel needs and minimizing disruptions as it closely evaluates challenging market conditions to guide network adjustments.

To keep guests informed, Hawaiian today launched an updated flight schedule grid with the latest status on affected routes. The carrier’s COVID-19 hub also lists travel waivers that will provide guests flexibility when booking and changing flights, and describes enhance cleaning measures to keep employees and guests safe.

Key changes announced today include:

International

  • Tahiti: Suspending nonstop service between Honolulu (HNL) and Papeete (PPT) due to new arrival restrictions by the French Polynesian government mirroring recent requirements imposed in Australia and New Zealand. The last HNL-PPT roundtrip will operate on March 21. Service is scheduled to resume in May.
     
  • Japan:
    -Changing from daily to six weekly nonstop flights between Honolulu (HNL) and Osaka’s Kansai Airport (KIX), from April 6-28.

    -Changing from four to three weekly nonstop flights between Honolulu (HNL) and Fukuoka (FUK), from April 5-June 1.
     

Domestic

  • North America:
    -Suspending for the month of April nonstop service between Kahului, Maui (OGG) and Las Vegas (LAS) operated with narrow-body Airbus A321neo aircraft after the flight from LAS to OGG on March 31. Hawaiian will continue to offer daily nonstop service between Honolulu (HNL) and LAS with wide-body Airbus A330 aircraft.

    -Suspending for the month of April a second daily nonstop flight operated with A321neo aircraft between Honolulu (HNL) and Seattle (SEA) and San Francisco (SFO). Hawaiian continues to offer daily service between HNL and both SEA and SFO with A330 aircraft.

    -Adjusting flight frequencies on select Hawai‘i-North America routes. Details are available here.
     

  • Neighbor Island: Reducing some service frequencies where demand is lowest, while preserving important connectivity between the Hawaiian Islands with a network of more than 100 daily flights in April. Hawaiian is suspending daily nonstop service between Kona (KOA) and Līhu‘e (LIH) after March 31 and affected guests will be accommodated via Honolulu or Kahului, Maui (OGG).
     

    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.

Alaska Airlines unites with local businesses to help residents who need it most

As the nation confronts the coronavirus outbreak, it’s those on the front lines who need help the most: workers without health insurance, healthcare’s first responders, residents in our region’s most vulnerable communities.

Leaders across the country are working hard to respond to the pandemic and will be for some time. We admire the creative leadership and partnership of public and private sector entities to support food and nutrition, shelter, education and other basic needs of the neighbors within our communities.

We are humbled by this collective effort. While simply one step, Alaska Airlines is grateful to join other businesses headquartered in the Seattle region – including Amazon, Costco, Microsoft and Starbucks – to support the Seattle Foundation’s COVID-19 Response Fund. The joint effort by philanthropic, government and corporate partners has raised more than $12 million since it was announced March 9, with donations from businesses and individuals continuing to come in.

Donations will be used to support organizations with deep roots in affected communities, and funds are expected to start reaching front-line community groups within the next few weeks. Learn more about how businesses can donate.

“Our region has faced many challenges over the years, and this coronavirus is no exception,” said Brad Tilden, Alaska Airlines chairman and CEO. “All 23,000 of us at Alaska are focused on keeping employees and guests safe every day, and we are optimistic about our future. We’re proud to join the city, county and partners across our region to support this fund for those with the greatest needs.”

The grants will focus on needs in these hard-hit communities within the Puget Sound region:

    • Residents without health insurance and/or access to sick days
    • Residents with limited English language proficiency
    • Healthcare and gig economy workers
    • Communities of color, among others

“Alaska Airlines and the Alaska Airlines Foundation are dedicated to supporting our communities and continuing our work to enable opportunities for young people,” said Diana Birkett Rakow, vice president for external relations. “Right now, these are our most urgent needs: to protect and support our community’s most vulnerable – and to get through this crisis together.”

The following immediate needs in the community will be the first priority for the grants:

    • The economic impact of reduced and lost work due to the outbreak
    • Needs of economically vulnerable populations caused by closures and cancellations related to COVID-19
    • Increased demand for medical information and support
    • Fear and confusion about the outbreak among the region’s most vulnerable residents

“COVID-19 represents a battle on two fronts – a public health crisis and a threat to the economic stability of so many in our region,” said Seattle Foundation President and CEO Tony Mestres. “While we are all dealing with the effects of this outbreak, some of our neighbors face disproportionate challenges around time off work, the cost of care, and reliable access to information. Through this Fund and thanks to the generous support of our partners, we want to make sure everyone in our community has the support they need, regardless of race, place, income, or identity.”

To inquire about the grants or be considered, email the Seattle Foundation at covid19@seattlefoundation.org. Funds will be awarded to community organizations, and individuals in need of support should inquire about help from organizations working within their communities.

Visit Seattle Foundation’s website to stay up to date on the status of the COVID-19 Fund’s fundraising and grants.

Information involving PenAir Flight 3296 marketed by Alaska Airlines

Posted: 7 p.m. on March 18, 2019

Service to Unalaska

Starting March 13, guests flying on RavnAir Alaska between Dutch Harbor and Anchorage can now earn or use Alaska Airlines miles. Guests will have the options to select either RavnAir’s FlyAway Awards or Alaska Airlines miles when booking flights between Unalaska and Anchorage. In order to collect or use Alaska Airlines miles, travelers will need an Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan number. For travel on Alaska Airlines miles, bookings must be made at Alaskaair.com.

Posted: 3:00 p.m. on Nov. 15, 2019

Nearly one month ago, PenAir Flight 3296 was involved in an incident when the aircraft overran the runway at Dutch Harbor, Alaska, which resulted in a loss of life and injuries to others onboard. Our thoughts remain with the those affected by this incident.

We also understand it has deeply impacted the community in Unalaska with the sudden loss of scheduled air service. Everyone at Alaska Airlines appreciates the community’s collaborative efforts, patience and resilience as we look for ways to support.

Ravn Air Group has decided to halt service of the Saab 2000 aircraft pending a full investigation into the circumstances of the incident. We respect and support that decision and are presently conducting our own assessment. It could be several months before that process is complete. Accordingly, all flights marketed by Alaska Airlines to and from Dutch Harbor through May 31, 2020 have been canceled.

Ravn Alaska has begun scheduled air service from Dutch Harbor to Anchorage with the Dash-8 aircraft. We are pleased that Unalaskans will again have access to scheduled air service.

Changes to service between Anchorage and Dutch Harbor:

  • Anyone who booked a ticket through Alaska Airlines that is now one of the canceled PenAir flights, will receive an email informing them that their DUT-ANC or ANC-DUT flight will automatically be rebooked on a Ravn flight, for no additional charge. This will apply both to tickets purchased with cash, and those booked as award flights through Alaska Airlines Mileage Program. Bags will be checked to the guest’s final destination.
  • If a ticket involves downline travel on Alaska Airlines, either in-state or out, that portion of the ticket will remain in place. Guests who prefer to receive a full refund instead of being rebooked on a Ravn flight or wish to change the Ravn flight on which they have been rebooked may call 1-800-ALASKAAIR.
  • Currently, there are no plans for Alaska Airlines to market service to and from DUT on Ravn or any other carrier.
  • Travel to and from DUT booked on Ravn will not accrue Alaska Mileage Plan miles. There is no change to accrual or redemption on Ravn to other destinations.
  • To book travel between DUT and ANC, visit https://www.flyravn.com/ or call 907-266-8394.

Posted: 9 p.m. on Nov. 4, 2019

We are extending the cancellation of flights between Anchorage and Dutch Harbor marketed by Alaska Airlines through Nov. 15. This extra time will allow our guests to make any necessary changes to their travel arrangements.

Posted: 8:45 a.m. on Oct. 24, 2019

One week ago, PenAir Flight 3296 was involved in an incident when the aircraft overran the runway at Dutch Harbor, Alaska.  We continue to keep those impacted in our thoughts, realizing what a difficult time this is for so many.

In the interest of safety, Ravn Air Group has paused the use of the Saab 2000 aircraft into Dutch Harbor in the wake of the incident on Oct. 17.  Alaska Airlines will not market scheduled service to or from Dutch Harbor with a Saab 2000 until the preliminary findings of the NTSB and Saab have been reviewed. We understand this is a difficult time for the Unalaska community and seafood industry with the limited air service available. 

At this time, flights marketed by Alaska Airlines through Nov. 8 have been canceled. Customers holding a ticket for travel through Nov. 8 will receive a full refund.  Please call 1-888-885-0155 with any questions about your reservation.

 We continue to work closely with PenAir, who is leading the response. This page will be updated as we learn more information.

Posted: 4:30 p.m. on Oct. 21, 2019

In the interest of safety, Alaska Airlines and PenAir have temporarily suspended ANC-DUT-ANC operations following the PenAir Flight 3296 incident. Alaska and PenAir are working together to determine a timeline for resuming service to Unalaska, Alaska.

Guests with tickets to or from Dutch Harbor purchased on or before Oct.17 for travel through Oct.28, may call Alaska Airlines at 1-888-885-0155 to request a full refund.

Posted: 11:20 a.m. on Oct. 18, 2019

PenAir has provided an updated statement on Flight 3296.

It is with deep sorrow that we have confirmed that one of our critically injured passengers from PenAir Flight 3296 passed away last night.

“On behalf of PenAir, Ravn Air Group and all our employees throughout the company, I would like to extend our deepest sympathies and condolences to the family and loved ones of our passenger who passed away,” said Dave Pflieger, President RavnAir Group.

Our entire team is devastated by this tragic incident. The thoughts of all 1,300 of our employees are with those who were hurt or affected.

Updates will be provided on an ongoing basis, as soon as more information becomes available.

For more information, visit this page.

Posted: 2:45 a.m. on Oct. 18, 2019

On Thursday at 5:40 p.m. local time, PenAir Flight 3296 was involved in an incident while landing at Dutch Harbor, Alaska.

Right now, our highest priority is the safety and care of everyone who was onboard the flight. Our hearts are with them, their families and employees at PenAir.

While the aircraft is operated by PenAir and the crew are PenAir employees, this flight was marketed by Alaska Airlines and the passengers are our guests. At this point, we understand 39 passengers and three crew members were onboard. We’re still gathering information about the welfare of those on the flight and the incident itself.

We have established a toll-free hotline for anyone who believes they may have a family member or friend onboard. The telephone number, accessible from the United States and Canada, is 1-888-283-2153. A telephone number that’s accessible from Mexico is 001-877-542-6973.

We will continue to work closely with PenAir, who is leading the response. This page will be updated as we learn more information.

Posted: 10:15 p.m. on Oct.17, 2019 

We have established a toll-free hotline for anyone who believes they may have a family member or friend onboard. The telephone number, accessible from the United States and Canada, is 1-888-283-2153. A telephone number that’s accessible from Mexico is 001-877-542-6973.

Posted: 9:30 p.m. on Oct. 17, 2019

PenAir Flight 3296 marketed by Alaska Airlines from Anchorage to Dutch Harbor, Alaska was involved in an incident during landing at 5:40 p.m. local time today.

There are 39 passengers and three crew members onboard. We’re still gathering information about the welfare of those onboard and the incident itself.

PenAir operates the Anchorage-Dutch Harbor service for Alaska with a Saab 2000 aircraft.

Flight 3296 departed Anchorage at 3:15 p.m. local time.

Hawaiian Airlines Suspending Sapporo Service

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HONOLULU – Hawaiian Airlines today announced it will suspend thrice-weekly nonstop service between Honolulu’s Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) and Sapporo’s New Chitose Airport (CTS) from April 2 through July 18. Hawaiian, which has served Sapporo since 2012, is adjusting its global network in response to declining travel demand caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“As we make temporary schedule adjustments in a rapidly evolving and challenging environment, we remain committed to supporting guests traveling between Japan and Hawai‘i,” said Theo Panagiotoulias, senior vice president for global sales and alliances at Hawaiian Airlines. “Sapporo is a critical city in our Japan network and we look forward to resuming service in the summer.”

Hawaiian will pause Sapporo operations after its flight from CTS to HNL on April 1. Service is scheduled to resume July 21 from HNL to CTS, and July 22 from CTS to HNL. The airline is assisting guests impacted by its network revisions by offering re-accommodations on alternative flights or providing refunds.

In addition to Sapporo, Hawaiian offers nonstop flights between Honolulu and Tokyo (Haneda and Narita airports), and Osaka’s Kansai International Airport and Fukuoka Airport.

As Hawaiian balances its network, it continues to offer guests booking flexibility and the ability to change travel plans without fees. The airline has also enhanced sanitation procedures across its business to keep aircraft and airport spaces safe and clean.

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.

Hawaiian Airlines Suspending Australia, New Zealand Service

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HONOLULU – Hawaiian Airlines today announced it will temporarily suspend nonstop service between Honolulu and its Australia and New Zealand gateways starting later this month due to new government entry restrictions being imposed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Hawaiian, which currently flies five times per week between Honolulu’s Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) and Sydney Airport (SYD), will suspend service through April 30 after its SYD to HNL flight on March 22. The carrier will pause three-times-weekly Brisbane service through May 31 after operating the flight from Brisbane Airport (BNE) to HNL on March 23.

In New Zealand, which Hawaiian also serves with three-times-weekly flights, service will stop through May 31 after the flight that departs Auckland Airport (AKL) to HNL on March 22.

The new 14-day self-isolation entry requirements established by Australia and New Zealand to address the COVID-19 pandemic led to Hawaiian’s decision to suspend flights to both countries.  

“We respect the efforts of our Australian and New Zealand neighbors to institute stringent public health measures, and we remain dedicated to resuming our service as we continue to closely monitor evolving market conditions and regulations,” said Theo Panagiotoulias, senior vice president for global sales and alliances at Hawaiian Airlines.

Hawaiian is assisting impacted guests by offering travel waivers, re-accommodations on alternative flights or refunds. Guests requiring assistance may use e-mail and the company reservations phone line. Options can be found at www.hawaiianairlines.com/contact-us. Travel waiver information is available at www.hawaiianairlines.com/coronavirus.  

For further information, please visit HawaiianAirlines.com or call Hawaiian Airlines' reservations department at 1-800-367-5320.

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.

Hawaiian Airlines to Pare Systemwide Network

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HONOLULU – Hawaiian Airlines today announced it will reduce flight capacity systemwide in April and May in response to declining demand caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The network adjustments will reduce Hawaiian’s capacity by 8-10 percent in April and 15-20 percent in May, compared to the airline’s original 2020 plans, to better match current demand. Schedule changes will be introduced over the next week.

“We find ourselves in a rapidly evolving environment that has presented our company with its greatest challenge in many years,” Hawaiian Airlines President and CEO Peter Ingram said today in a letter to employees. “We know this will not be our new normal, but we can’t know when health experts and community mitigation efforts will bring the spread of the virus under control – or when travel apprehension will fade.”

As the airline balances its network to reflect evolving market conditions, it continues to offer guests booking flexibility and the ability to change travel plans at no cost while reinforcing and expanding sanitation efforts across the company. Hawaiian has commenced enhanced cleaning of airport spaces and aircraft cabins, and made in-flight service adjustments such as suspending the refiling of beverage and hot towel service.

In his letter, Ingram said the company is instituting a hiring freeze and evaluating a series of actions to reduce costs, including reviewing third-party contracts, deferring non-essential aircraft painting, and renegotiating vendor rates. Hawaiian’s senior executives and board members are voluntarily taking compensation adjustments of 10-20 percent, effective immediately through at least June.

Earlier this month, Hawaiian announced it was temporarily suspending flights that operate three-times-weekly between Kona International Airport (KOA) on the Island of Hawai‘i and Tokyo’s Haneda Airport (HND), and four-times-weekly between Honolulu’s Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) and HND. The airline also suspended its five-times-weekly nonstop service between HNL and Incheon International Airport (ICN) from March 2 through April 20. Hawaiian is providing guests assistance that best fits their travel needs.

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.

 

Flyback Friday: In Memory of Capt. Rick Rogers

The Hawaiian proverb “I ka wā ma mua, ka wā ma hope,” or “The future lies in the past,” carries a sentiment that is deeply woven into the fabric of Hawaiian Airlines. The endeavor to preserve our 90-year history hasn’t been an easy feat; however, sharing these moments, milestones and memories has played a pivotal role in telling our story to the world.

We owe our gratitude to Capt. Richard “Rick” W. Rogers, a longtime company pilot who, upon his retirement, worked enthusiastically to keep our mana‘o (thoughts, knowledge) alive as our airline’s archivist. Though it is with great sadness that we share Rogers, 70, passed away last month doing what he loved most: flying recreationally on O‘ahu’s North Shore.

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Rogers in 2005 when he was an active Hawaiian Airlines pilot.

 

As we reflect on the life and achievements of our beloved colleague and friend, this post will serve as Rogers’ final feature in the “Flyback Friday” series.

Rogers’ life was nothing short of extraordinary, and he kept his cup overflowing with a love for history. A jack of all trades, he was a father, grandfather, husband, pilot, Army veteran, historian, shipwreck diver, hunter, flight instructor, beachcomber, entrepreneur, artist, farmer, fisherman, and author.

When not carefully curating our rich history, Rogers loved to fly his glider plane out of the Dillingham Airfield and worked passionately to preserve the history of Hale‘īwa, his hometown on the North Shore. One of his efforts led to the installation of plaques identifying sites of historical significance throughout Hale‘īwa.

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One of the historical plaques Rogers helped create alongside local historical groups.

 

Born in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, Rogers launched his adventurous career on the shores off Vietnam as a salvage diver during the war. He became hooked on flying after taking a lesson while in dive school and later used his army earnings to pay for his pilot’s license.

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Rogers sharing photos of women throughout our history during a 2018 Girls in Aviation Day event at our headquarters.

 

In January 1987, after several years of flight instructing and operating scenic air tours around Hawai‘i, Rogers joined Hawaiian Airlines as a Dash 7 pilot. Over the course of two decades, he experienced our airline’s fleet and network evolution from the flight deck, operating our DC-8s, DC-9s, Boeing 717s and 767s.

When Rogers wasn’t transporting our guests, he was raising four kids with his wife Lois and pursuing a career in marine archaeology. He recounted years’ worth of diving adventures in a book he published in 1999, called “Shipwrecks of Hawai‘i: A Maritime History of the Big Island.”

Rogers retired in 2010 and naturally segued into an archivist role after we reacquired our first plane, the Bellanca CH-300 Pacemaker, in 2009, ahead of our then-80th anniversary. For the next decade, he dedicated himself to cataloging the volumes of historical artifacts in our company collection, including images, posters, correspondence, manuals, uniforms, models, trinkets and more.

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Rogers, pictured left, during the reveal of the Capt. Jimmy Hogg wall, which can still be viewed today at OGG.

 

He was known for his quirky personality and creative archives projects, including (but not limited to):

  • In 2014, he helped create a wall display at Gate 19 at Maui’s Kahului Airport that introduces travelers to Jimmy Hogg, a Hawaiian Airlines pilot and aviation pioneer who lent the last three letters of his last name to the airport’s designator code: OGG. A similar wall at Kapalua-West Maui honors former Hawaiian Airlines CEO John H. Magoon, whose initials, JHM, form that airport’s designator code.
  • In 2017, in celebration of our 88th anniversary, he installed a time capsule at our Charles I. Elliott Maintenance and Cargo Facility. The capsule will be enshrined until 2079 – the year of our 150th anniversary.
  • In 2019, as we geared up for our 90th anniversary, he led several historical showcases, including a “mini-museum” at our Honolulu-based headquarters and a Hawaiian Airlines window display at Saks Fifth Avenue in Waikīkī.
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Rogers in 2017 showing the camera a time capsule that is still concealed beneath a stairwell in the Charles I. Elliott Maintenance and Cargo Facility.

 

Rogers has contributed to our Mana‘o blog since it was launched in June 2018 and served as the proud owner of the “Flyback Friday,” a monthly series revisiting noteworthy company accomplishments. He was also a regular contributor to our in-flight magazine, HanaHou!, where he penned a “From the Archives” column featured in the ‘Ohana Pages.

A memorial service was held in Hale‘īwa last Sunday, March 8, where family and friends gathered to share their memories of Rogers. His ashes were spread across the coastline and a cohort of small planes flown by his close friends performed a special fly-by salute. One of the aircraft was the Bellanca CH 300 Pacemaker, which dropped 30,000 flowers from the sky in honor of the long-lasting impact Rogers left on our airline. 

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A collage the family put together for Rogers’ service on O‘ahu’s North Shore.

 

Please join us in remembering the remarkable life of our archivist, colleague and friend Capt. Rick Rogers:

“Rick was a true aviation buff who loved and admired our industry. He will be deeply missed,” said Peter Ingram, our president and CEO, in a company memo to employees. “I send my aloha and heartfelt condolences to his wife, Lois, and his many friends here at Hawaiian Airlines.”

“Rick was a unique and wonderful person and pleasure to know,” said Ann Botticelli, our senior vice president of corporate communications and public affairs, the department where Rogers’ archival initiatives took shape. “He was a passionate protector of history, an aviation enthusiast, an author, and a marine archeologist. In short, he was a renaissance man and all of us were very lucky to have spent time with him.”

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A fellow employee’s picture of Rogers in his glider over the North Shore in 2019.

 

“I always looked forward to days when I was scheduled to fly with Rick. [He was] always technically proficient, but still had an upbeat attitude that made him a pleasure to spend the day with,” said Ken Rewick, our vice president of flight operations who once piloted our planes alongside Rogers. “We would fill the time between flights sharing stories about our early days flying in Hawai‘i and Rick’s research chronicling shipwrecks throughout the Islands. I’ll always remember him as an energetic, passionate and eternally youthful person. He will be missed, but not forgotten.”

“Rick was an original who added texture to life and whose enthusiasm always lifted spirits,” said Mark Dunkerley, our former president and CEO who spearheaded the re-acquisition and restoration of our Bellanca CH-300 Pacemaker – the project that started Rogers’ archivist career.

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Rogers, pictured far right, during the unveiling of our Bellanca CH-300 Pacemaker after the completion of its first restoration in 2009.

 

“I was first acquainted with Rogers in 1978 when he was my flight instructor, and in 1987, we became classmates at Hawaiian Airlines,” said Kirk McBride, one of our Airbus A330 captains. “One of my favorite experiences with him was just last year when we flew an American Champion Citabria together. Godspeed, Rick Rogers. He will always hold a special place with me.”

“Capt. Rick was always generous with his time, knowledge, and enthusiasm,” said Julie Ng, a lead business functional analyst in our technical operations team who often donated her time to help Rogers in the archives. “During my time volunteering in the archives, we cataloged around 1,000 artifacts – and he had a background story for almost every item. Capt. Rick loved getting visitors to the archives and sharing the history of Hawaiian Airlines with others.”

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Rogers, pictured far right, when he was a pilot for a company called Scenic Air Tours.

 

“Rick and I flew air tours together in Twin Beech (Beechcraft Model 18) aircraft in the old days. His unique perspective to flying and all things historical made him one of the most exceptional pilots with whom I have shared the sky,” said Bruce Mayes, a longtime friend of Rogers who piloted one of the aircraft that flew over his service last weekend. “In my flying tribute over his celebration of life on Sunday, I honor a talented friend and outstanding pilot.”

 

Those wishing to offer support to the Rogers family are encouraged to direct their donations to The Ninety-Nines, an international organization of women aviators that is dedicated to the advancement of aviation through education, scholarships, and mutual support. To make a contribution in honor of Capt. Rick Rogers, please click here.

 

How Alisa Onishi Takes Our Brand to New Heights

Alisa Onishi’s love for storytelling is a big part of the reason Hawaiian Airlines is one of the most recognized brands in the airline industry.

It was under her detail-oriented eyes that many of our latest and most visual initiatives – such as a comprehensive brand refresh, Disney’s Moana livery, new uniforms designed by Sig Zane, and in-flight amenity kits and soft goods by Kealopiko – came to fruition so seemingly, well, seamless.

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Onishi and Avi Mannis, senior vice president of marketing, pictured in front of an aircraft being prepare for its first service with the new livery.

 

Onishi, director of brand management, was born and raised on O‘ahu and graduated from Kamehameha Schools before enrolling at Chapman University and finishing her degree at Hawaii Pacific University. After graduating with a visual communications degree, she set her sights on a career in broadcast journalism and landed a job at a local television station.

Despite the thrill of being on camera, she found herself more interested in the behind-the-scenes production process. “I thought I wanted to be on camera, but I fell in love with the people behind the camera,” Onishi recalled. “I learned that I enjoyed writing and producing really good stories and did that for a couple of years.”

Five years (and a few film jobs) later, Onishi broke into the marketing world, and in 2011 found her niche at Hawaiian Airlines’ marketing promotions team.

“I got to launch a bunch of promotional events like route launches for Brisbane, Taiwan, Auckland, Beijing, Chitose, among others, and host a lot of fun experiences,” she said. “For example, we created a stage of snow at the Sapporo Snow Festival with a 70-foot ice sculpture of Diamond Head and had hula dancers dancing on the ice.”

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A photo of the massive display that Onishi's team created for the 2013 Sapporo Snow Fesitval.

 

Onishi’s experience in sharing our company’s Hawaiian hospitality and dedication to Hawai‘i's culture made her a natural fit for a role in brand management. When the job opened and she was encouraged to apply, she welcomed the opportunity despite her fears. “I was a little nervous because I knew it was a big role to fill and I wasn’t quite sure I was ready for it…but I believe that if you’re scared to do something, then you’re probably taking the right leap.”

In her role for over six years, she’s come to appreciate that a normal workday is far from normal.

“A typical day for me could range from starting the day with cleaning out my inbox or being on set at our maintenance hangar for an [Airbus] A330 aircraft photoshoot,” she said.

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The Onishi ʻohana

 

When she’s not at work, she and her husband, Brandon, are at home busy taking care of their two keiki, Callie, 10, and Colten, 6, and pomski Mochi.

Her team oversees Hawaiian’s global brand strategy and visual identity. But Onishi says her job extends beyond our airline’s external expression and she remains equally dedicated to providing our employees with the resources they need to succeed.

“We curate, design and understand how we want to be seen externally as a brand. The way we do that is by making sure our people have the tools and guidance they need to do their job well – without forcing it,” she said “It comes down to how we behave, what our character is, how we make decisions and how we express ourselves at Hawaiian — not just in our ads but also in our emails to each other.”

Her current focus is ensuring employees feel equipped and empowered to represent Hawaiian Airlines and do their jobs in a way that is in line with our company values and representative of Hawai‘i’s warm host culture.

“One of the biggest challenges is that the brand is owned by everyone. We have 7,500-plus employees who reflect the brand every day, and it can be difficult to remind everyone of us how important they are, whether they interact with our guests daily or not.”

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Onishi, who oversaw the redesign of our uniforms, at our Honolulu-base uniform center. Her team manages the center, which houses branded apparel for all pilots, flight attendants, guest services, maintenance and cargo employee.

 

She added, “It’s not only about flying our guests safely from point A to B and letting them experience Hawai‘i on their own. It’s about taking them on that journey and offering up the knowledge that we have (as hosts of this place) that no other airline has or needs to have.”

As our airline continues to thrive, Onishi believes that it’ll become more important for Hawaiian Airlines to stay true to its roots while also pushing our employees to think bigger in the role we play in representing Hawai‘i.

“Unlike other industries, our brand in the travel world is so much more important to our success as a company. My goal is to constantly push us to be better, from bolder designs to crafting stories with more intent. Traditionally, Hawaiians shared their knowledge and stories, and that was their culture—it’s how hula started and how the Hawaiian language was revitalized,” she said.

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Onishi and her family with Hawai‘i actress Auliʻi Cravalho during an employee event for the launch of our Moana livery.

 

“One project that’s an example of this is our boarding video. We had a number of our Hawaiian musicians start to pass away, so we embarked on a project to capture the music of some of our greatest talents. We had an employee who was passionate about music and it was his idea to do a bunch of music videos, so he helped us create a lineup of artists who meant something to the community. Something as simple as a boarding video was a way for us to reinforce our responsibility and share artists who really mean something to Hawai‘i.”

 

One of the boarding videos Onishi's team created featuring legendary Hawai‘i musician Henry Kapono.

When asked what her guidance would be to others interested in her field, she shared, “My advice for anyone who wants to be in the creative world is to be brave. There were so many times in my life that I’d taken risks (without even knowing what the risk was) and put myself out there. Being brave enough to see opportunities and seize them and take advantage of them when you can. “

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