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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.”
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, ourformer president and CEO who spearheaded the re-acquisition and restoration of our Bellanca CH-300 Pacemaker – the project that started Rogers’ archivist career.
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.”
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.
Video: B-roll, aircraft cleaning, cabin air quality
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.
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.”
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.
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.”
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.
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. “
Hawaiian Airlines Reports February 2020 Traffic Statistics and Updates Expected First Quarter 2020 Metrics
HONOLULU, March 9, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Hawaiian Airlines, Inc., a subsidiary of Hawaiian Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: HA) ("Hawaiian"), today announced its system-wide traffic statistics for the month ended February 29, 2020. It also updated its expectations for certain first quarter 2020 financial metrics.
Hawaiian welcomed more than 856,000 guests in February 2020. Total traffic (revenue passenger miles) increased 6.4 percent on an increase of 13.3 percent in capacity (available seat miles) compared to February 2019. Load factor decreased 5.2 points year-over-year to 79.3 percent.
The table below summarizes February and year-to-date statistics compared to the respective prior-year periods.
SYSTEM-WIDE OPERATIONS1
FEBRUARY
2020
2019
% CHANGE
PAX
856,687
870,538
(1.6)%
RPMs (000)
1,335,049
1,255,238
6.4%
ASMs (000)
1,683,538
1,486,005
13.3%
LF
79.3%
84.5%
(5.2) pts
YEAR-TO-DATE
2020
2019
% CHANGE
PAX
1,819,740
1,829,086
(0.5)%
RPMs (000)
2,863,751
2,689,257
6.5%
ASMs (000)
3,512,755
3,186,855
10.2%
LF
81.5%
84.4%
(2.9) pts
PAX
Passengers transported
RPM
Revenue Passenger Mile; one paying passenger transported one mile
ASM
Available Seat Mile; one seat transported one mile
LF
Load Factor; percentage of seating capacity filled
1Includes the operations of contract carriers under capacity purchase agreements.
First Quarter 2020 Outlook
The Company has revised certain of its expectations for the quarter ending March 31, 2020 that were previously provided in its fourth quarter and full year 2019 earnings release dated January 30, 2020.
Specifically, the Company:
withdrew its estimates for operating revenue per available seat mile (ASM) in light of demand reductions associated with the global spread of COVID-19; the Company is unable to provide an updated guidance range due to considerable uncertainty about the impact of COVID-19 on demand for the remainder of the quarter; if there are no new net bookings for March as of March 5, 2020, RASM would be down about 12 percent year-over-year for the first quarter
affirmed its estimates for ASMs; the decrease in capacity caused by the temporary suspension of the Company's service to South Korea starting from March 2, 2020 is largely offset by an increase in capacity due to up-gauges on North America routes for operational reasons;
affirmed its estimates for operating cost per ASM excluding fuel and non-recurring items;
affirmed its estimates for gallons of jet fuel consumed; and
lowered its estimates for economic fuel cost per gallon.
The table below summarizes the Company's revised expectations for the quarter ending March 31, 2020 expressed as an expected percentage change compared to the results for the quarter ended March 31, 2019.
Item
Prior First
Quarter 2020
Guidance
Revised First
Quarter 2020
Guidance
GAAP Equivalent
Prior GAAP
First Quarter
2020
Guidance
Revised GAAP
First Quarter
2020
Guidance
Available Seat Mile (ASM)
Up 7.5 – 10.5%
No change
Operating revenue per ASM
Down 4.5 – 7.5%
Withdrawn
Cost per ASM excluding fuel and non-recurring items (a)
Down 1.5 – 4.5%
No change
Cost per ASM (a)
Down 1.8 – 4.3%
Down 2.9 – 5.3%
Gallons of jet fuel consumed
Up 4.5 – 7.5%
No change
Economic fuel cost per gallon (b) (c)
$1.97
$1.87
Fuel cost per gallon (b)
$1.93
$1.83
(a) See Table 1 for a reconciliation of GAAP operating expenses to non-GAAP operating expenses excluding aircraft fuel and non-recurring items.
(b) Economic fuel cost per gallon estimates are based on the March 6, 2020 fuel forward curve.
(c) See Table 2 for a reconciliation of GAAP fuel costs to non-GAAP economic fuel costs.
Investor Conference Call
Hawaiian Holdings is holding an investor conference call today (March 9, 2020) 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.
(in thousands, except per-gallon amounts) (unaudited)
Estimated three months ending March 31, 2020
Aircraft fuel expense, including taxes and delivery
$
123,083
–
$
126,703
Realized (gains)/losses on settlement of fuel derivative contracts
3,000
–
3,000
Economic fuel expense
$
126,083
–
$
129,703
Fuel gallons consumed
67,424
–
69,360
Economic fuel cost per gallon
$
1.87
–
$
1.87
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 expectations regarding operating revenue per available seat mile, available seat miles, operating cost per available seat mile, gallons of jet fuel consumed, economic fuel cost per gallon, and fuel cost per gallon and cost per available seat mile excluding fuel and non-recurring items for the quarter ending March 31, 2020; the impact on the Company's business of COVID-19 and the suspension of service to South Korea; 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, as the case may 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 Company's ability to accurately forecast quarterly and annual results; economic volatility; the effects of the spread of contagious diseases or viruses, such as the novel coronavirus, COVID-19; macroeconomic developments; political developments; the price and availability of aircraft fuel; fluctuations in demand for transportation in the markets in which the Company operates, including due to the occurrence of natural disasters, such as hurricanes, earthquakes and tsunamis; the Company's dependence on tourist travel; labor negotiations and related developments; competitive pressures, including the potential impact of rising industry capacity in the markets in which the Company competes; the Company's ability to continue to generate sufficient cash flow to support the payment of a quarterly dividend; changes in the Company's future capital needs; foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations; and the Company's ability to implement its growth strategy.
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.
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 91st year of continuous service, Hawaiian is Hawai'i's biggest and longest-serving airline. Hawaiian offers non-stop service to Hawai'i from more U.S. gateway cities (13) than any other airline, along with service from Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, American Samoa and Tahiti. Hawaiian also provides, on average, more than 160 jet flights daily between the Hawaiian Islands, and over 240 daily flights system wide.
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.
When flight HA576 from Honolulu to Maui landed at Kahului Airport in October 2018, its pilots weren’t expecting to be greeted by a new fan. But one guest, Victoria Thom, an 11-year-old aspiring pilot, was thrilled to see her flight was operated by two women and jumped at the opportunity to introduce herself. Our Boeing 717 Capt. Carrie Hironaka and First Officer Kanani Aio welcomed Thom with open arms, taking photos with her and inviting her into the cockpit before their next flight back to Honolulu’s Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL).
When Thom returned to her home in Arizona, she sent us a letter thanking the pilots for their experience:
“This flight crew was very inspirational to me because I want to be a pilot as well. It was very exciting to discover that both the Captain and First Officer were women. My dad is a pilot at JetBlue Airways, and I have wanted to fly just like him since I was two years old. After my experience flying on Hawaiian, I have decided to become a pilot at Hawaiian Airlines when I grow up,” Thom said.
“After I graduate, I will be applying to Hawaiian Airlines. I plan to interview with you in about fifteen years, so I hope you will be watching for my application. I hope to do as well as the pilots that were on our flight to Maui! Please let them know that they have truly inspired me!”
Our pilots responded to Thom with their encouragement – reflecting our airline’s dedication to molding the next generation of aviation professionals:
Hironaka and Thom in October 2018
“I love seeing youth who are passionate about aviation – and love it, even more, when it is a young female. You seem very dedicated to your goals and with the support of your family, I have no doubt you will one day be my First Officer at Hawaiian Airlines, maybe in even less than the fifteen years that you’re giving yourself,” Hironaka said in her letter. “There is nothing like the feeling of rolling down that runway and taking off up into the sky, so study hard but remember to enjoy the ride!”
Aio and Thom in October 2018
“I’m so happy to hear that you’ve decided to become a pilot and that you’ve set your heart on Hawaiian Airlines! It’s an incredible place to fly and flying between the islands is pretty special. There’s no place like it in the world,” Aio said in her response. “You’re at the beginning of an amazing journey and I’m so excited for you! It’s not always easy but it so much fun and completely worth it. Don’t ever give up and you’ll get those wings!”
So, when we discovered the Thom family would be taking another trip on Hawaiian Airlines, we knew we had to make it special.
Just in time for International Women’s Day, our ‘ohana came together to give Thom the ultimate surprise: a chance to get a head start on her career as a Hawaiian Airlines pilot.
Clark (far left) pictured with the Thom family at HNL
When the family arrived at HNL, they were greeted by Hawaiian Airlines System Chief Pilot Peter Clark. In his hands were two special gifts: a pair of Thom’s very own Hawaiian Airlines wings and a captain’s logbook to document her pilot meet-and-greets in the years to come.
Thom in the cockpit of the Airbus A330
“I’m excited about today because I started when I was 15 years old. Tori is 11, so she’s even younger than I was,” Clark said before the surprise. “For some people flying is a passion that is going to carry them all the way into retirement and I suspect Tori will be one of those, so I’m happy to light that fire.”
The captain of the Airbus A330 filling out Thom’s first logbook
Thom broke in her logbook with her first pilot signatures from the captain of her flight to HNL and given her first pair of Hawaiian Airlines wings to pin on her shirt. Clark then took Thom on a walk in a pilot’s shoes, giving her a behind-the-scenes look at pre-flight preparations at our HNL crew center.
Thom at the briefing table with the captain and flight crew of a flight heading toward Seattle
There, she was able to sit in on a flight crew briefing, meet pilots preparing for their flights and see what it takes to finalize a flight plan with our Systems Operations Control Center.
Afterward, we headed to our nearby headquarters, gave her a tour of our pilot training facility, and buckled her into the co-pilot’s seat of an Airbus A321neo simulator, giving her the wheel to fly the aircraft around Diamond Head and over urban Honolulu.
Thom in the captain’s chair of our Airbus A321neo simulator
Before the Thom family left us to embark on their vacation, we ended their pilot adventure with a personal look at our very first airplane – the 1929 Bellanca CH-300 Pacemaker
The cherry on the cake, Thom took the captain’s seat in our first plane ever put into service.
“Since the first time I ever came to Hawai‘i, I was like this is where I want to fly,” said Thom. “[Hawaiian Airlines] is the best airline I’ve ever flown on.”
Our airline is proud to have one of the highest percentages of female pilots in the industry, making up nearly 10 percent of our entire pilot workforce. We strive to continue that momentum, fostering workplace diversity and creating skills-based learning opportunities tailored to educating and growing the next generation of aviation professionals.
Join us in celebrating our future pilot Victoria Thom and the next generation of aviation leaders.
For images from Thom’s surprise, check out the slideshow below. To enlarge the photos, click the images.
Women who fix & fly: Celebrating Alaska’s aircraft technicians on International Women’s Day
Alice grew up fixing anything and everything around the house alongside the men in her family. She became a licensed aircraft technician before she was old enough to buy a beer.
Surin originally planned to be an aeronautical engineer. But during university, she realized she’d rather do hands-on work maintaining planes than study the math and science behind them.
Charize dreamed of becoming a pilot, but wanted to learn about the nuts and bolts first and has been hooked ever since.
These three women forged diverse paths to Alaska Airlines’ maintenance operation at San Francisco International Airport – all sharing a love for aviation and their craft, making Alaska’s planes safe to fly every day. Today, on International Women’s Day, we’re sharing their stories of working in the maintenance group at Alaska – and celebrating women throughout the company.
Alice, Surin and Charize during a night shift at SFO.
Alice, Surin and Charize are among about a dozen women in the group of 920 aircraft technicians across the airline – in a work force that is 98% male nationwide.* With Alaska’s plans to hire dozens of new aircraft technicians this year, the SFO team hopes more women will join their ranks.
“Working on aircraft always inspires me to challenge myself,” Surin says. “As an aircraft mechanic, I ensure the passengers’ safety and the airworthiness of aircraft. That makes me feel empowered.”
Charize, Alice and Surin.
“Aviation, I love it. It’s the people and airplanes. That’s pretty much it.” – Alice
Throughout her maintenance career, Alice has worked in aviation operations ranging from agriculture to experimental, from cargo to corporate – repairing all kinds of aircraft, from crop dusters to jets. In 2011, she added commercial jets to her repertoire, becoming the first woman hired as a technician at Virgin America. “It opened a whole new world for me,” she says.
Alice.
And while she loves all areas of aviation, she appreciates the culture at Alaska, where she’s worked since 2018. “It takes a certain type of person to be in this career,” she says “You have to have passion, creativity, heart – and be willing to work hard at times. Aviation brings these types of people together.”
Alice credits early mentors with giving her a solid foundation. “I was blessed to have a lot of old-timers who took time to teach me how to approach an airplane,” she says. “They never made me feel different for being a woman. And humbly, I am thankful for that and for giving me that space where I just saw myself as a mechanic, regardless of my gender.”
Now, Alice is taking a new generation under her wing. This month, she’s attending her first Women in Aviation International (WAI) conference, where she hopes to encourage other women interested in maintenance. “I feel like I’m at a place where I could be a mentor,” she says. “Somebody did that for me, and it’s my time to give back.”
Some of her favorite parts about her job: “I like that I’m not limited to only working on one component or part. I get to work on the whole airplane,” she says. And she also loves to travel. She’s been to 28 countries and counting.
“I’m excited to see other ladies starting their journey, and if I can help them in any way, it would be a privilege,” she says.
Alice, whose Instagram is @fixandfly, plans to eventually earn her pilot’s license, and she sees a long career ahead fixing planes. “Fixing is something I’m going to be doing the rest of my life,” she says. “And flying is just the best way to get around.”
“Passengers can’t see us working at night, but they trust us. When planes start leaving, they know that they’re safe.” – Surin
Surin has always had a natural affinity for fixing things – and when she realized she could make a career out of it, she decided to move to the U.S. from South Korea to pursue aviation. After graduation from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in 2018, she had several job options, including an offer from Alaska Airlines. “I’m glad I chose Alaska because of their values,” she says. “I feel like we’re always trying to do the right thing and everyone’s living those values.”
Surin says she draws inspiration from other women at the company, including Alice, who helped her navigate the predominantly male workplace when she was starting out. And she hopes to follow in the footsteps of other women who’ve risen through the ranks of maintenance to management, like Constance von Muehlen. “Having Constance as senior vice president of maintenance and engineering really motivates me,” Surin says.
Surin.
Most days when people see her in her Alaska uniform – even people within the company – they assume she’s a flight attendant or customer-service agent. They never guess that she works on planes. “I’m proud to tell them I’m in maintenance,” she says.
“When my family or friends are going on an Alaska plane, I can say that this is what I maintained and this is super safe to fly,” she says. “And those kinds of things make me enjoy my work.”
Charize.
“Being in this field. It feels like the world is my playground.” – Charize
Charize got used to being one of a few women in her aircraft-maintenance classes at Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology. “I knew this was such a guy’s world, and I was really nervous in the beginning,” she says. “But in this career, it’s actually better than you’d think. As long as you work hard and let your quality of work be known, everyone will respect you.”
Charize has worked for Alaska since summer 2018. “It’s so rewarding to fix a plane that needs to be fixed, and you know that it’s a go and you’ve made it as safe as possible,” she says.
Charize enjoys the compliments she hears from happy Alaska guests when she’s wearing the company logo. “Alaska is a great team, and it’s a great brand to work for,” she says, encouraging women to check out the job opportunities. “If you love planes and you want to work on them, don’t be scared. I think more girls should definitely be in maintenance.”
Charize doesn’t regret choosing maintenance over pilot training – and points out her job still gives her the opportunity to travel the world. She’s been to the Philippines, Amsterdam and Madrid. This year, she hopes to go to Brazil and Dubai. “I love the freedom – just going wherever I want to go,” she says.
Constance von Muehlen, Alaska’s Senior Vice President for Maintenance and Engineering, discovered her own passion for aircraft technology during seven years serving as a captain and maintenance pilot for Blackhawk helicopters in the U.S. Army. “I enjoyed the puzzle the work presented, the challenges that were always different and that satisfaction you get from resolving those challenges,” she says. ‘It’s a never-ending learning opportunity.”
Alaska hopes more young women will seek out exciting careers as aircraft technicians, von Muehlen says. One hurdle to recruiting young people, especially women, is overcoming stereotypes around what a technician’s job entails. “People realize you work with your hands, but it is also your mind that’s guiding you to what a problem could be. It’s like being a doctor for airplanes,” she says. “This really is a profession of the mind.”
Von Muehlen encourages students to attend events like Alaska’s annual Aviation Day, where they can get a hands-on learning experience from working technicians and better understand the complexity of the jobs. “Not only are there pilots and flight attendants on an airplane, but there are also technicians who are very important partners in keeping everyone safe on that airplane,” she says. “We have a tremendous amount of responsibility in the work that we do.”
#IamAlaska: Voices of women working throughout Alaska Airlines
“Go after your dreams, and follow your gut. But make sure to enjoy the motion as you go through it.” — Aisha, customer service agent, Alaska Airlines
“At work, there is nothing that I can’t do. I try to better myself and push my limits.” — Andrea, ground service agent, Horizon Air
“If you continue to work hard and strive for what you want, you can achieve whatever you want.” — Teal, flight attendant, Horizon Air
Photo by Tina Hong-Sandmel.
“Women have their power in who they are and what they bring to the table. Empowering other women to do that is important.” — Jithmi, senior product manager, Alaska Airlines e-commerce team
“If I could give other women advice, it would be to just be yourself, don’t worry about putting on a facade or anything like that. People will actually love you for just being you.” — Katharine, captain, Alaska Airlines
“Don’t worry about the things you can’t control––focus on the things you can do something about. Find something to enjoy every day.” — Patricia Bedient, Lead Independent Director of the AAG Board of Directors
HONOLULU – Hawaiian Airlines today announced it would adjust flight frequencies between Hawai‘i and Tokyo’s Haneda Airport (HND) at the end of March due to slowing travel demand attributed to the COVID-19 virus.
Effective March 28 through April 29, the airline will temporarily suspend flights that operate three-times-weekly between Kona International Airport (KOA) on the Island of Hawai‘i and HND, and four-times-weekly between Honolulu’s Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) and HND. At the same time, Hawaiian will launch an additional daily nonstop service between HNL and HND as announced in November of last year.
“Japan is a vitally important market for our airline, and we have been looking forward to launching our third nonstop flight between Honolulu and Haneda, which offers more convenient connecting times for our guests,” said Peter Ingram, president and CEO at Hawaiian Airlines. “Unfortunately, the spread of COVID-19 beyond Asia has diminished near-term global travel demand, so we are balancing some of our Haneda capacity by suspending for about a month our hybrid service between Haneda and Honolulu and Kona.”
Below are the last flights scheduled to operate prior to the suspension (all times local):
FLIGHT
ROUTE
DEPARTS
ARRIVES
SERVICE ENDS
SERVICE RESUMES
HA851
KOA-HND
5:15 p.m.
10 p.m. (+1)
March 27
May 1
HA852
HND-KOA
11:55 p.m.
12:05 p.m.
March 27
May 1
HA855
HNL-HND
5:20 p.m.
10 p.m. (+1)
March 26
April 30
HA856
HND-HNL
11:55 p.m.
11:55 a.m.
March 28
May 2
The new Honolulu-Haneda frequency begins with the inaugural flight on March 28. HA863 will depart HNL at 12:30 p.m., with a scheduled 5:10 p.m. arrival at HND the following day. The return flight, HA864, will depart HND at 8:15 p.m. and arrive at HNL at 8:10 a.m. the same day, giving guests ample time to enjoy their first day on O‘ahu or connect to neighboring Hawaiian Islands.
Once the changes take place, Hawaiian’s Japan-Hawai‘i network of 35 weekly flights will include three daily nonstop flights connecting Honolulu and Tokyo: two flights serving HND and one flight serving Narita International Airport (NRT). The airline also offers daily service between Honolulu and Osaka’s Kansai International Airport (KIX), four weekly flights between Honolulu and Fukuoka Airport (FUK), and three weekly flights between Honolulu and Sapporo’s New Chitose Airport (CTS).
Upon restoring the suspended Haneda flights, Hawaiian will operate 42 weekly flights between Japan and Hawai‘i.
The airline is assisting guests impacted by its network revisions by offering re-accommodations on alternative flights or providing refunds. Hawaiian is also providing flexibility for guests concerned about potential changes to their travel plans due to the evolving global COVID-19 situation and who may need to make alternative arrangements. Please visit https://www.hawaiianairlines.com/coronavirus to learn more.
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 91st year of continuous service, Hawaiian is Hawaii’s biggest and longest-serving airline. Hawaiian offers nonstop service to Hawai‘i from more U.S. gateway cities (13) than any other airline, along with service from Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, American Samoa and Tahiti. Hawaiian also provides, on average, more than 160 jet flights daily between the Hawaiian Islands, and over 240 daily flights system wide.
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.
We’ve been fielding questions from guests and employees alike about air quality onboard our aircraft. While Dr. John Lynch, one of our University of Washington medical experts, has advised coronavirus is not thought to be airborne, our planes are equipped with systems that contain HEPA, or High Efficiency Particulate Air filters. They are the same kind of filters found in hospital operating rooms.
“It’s not a self-contained tube with the same air for a six-hour flight,” said Constance von Muehlen, senior vice president of maintenance & engineering. “The air in a cabin comes from the top and flows out from your feet. In fact, there’s a large portion of air that comes directly from outside. Within a six-minute period you get completely new air in the entire cabin.”
If guests want more filtered air, they can simply open the vent above them. It’s important to note that the flight deck, galley areas, and lavatories get air directly from outside the aircraft. That air also gets directly exhausted outside.
Alaska Airlines has one of the newest fleets in the country which ensures our planes have the latest filtration technology in use. Our filters are changed according to manufacturer guidelines.
Studies have shown due to the frequency of cabin air recirculation, that the air onboard planes can be better than the air found in many office buildings.
Estas son las acciones que estamos tomando para proteger a nuestros pasajeros y empleados
Día a día hay nuevas noticias relacionadas con el coronavirus y la incertidumbre alrededor de esta enfermedad es preocupante. Continuamos trabajando directamente con las autoridades de sanidad y con los líderes de nuestra industria, recibiendo actualizaciones y poniendo en práctica las mejores resoluciones, para asegurar la salud y el bienestar de nuestros pasajeros y empleados.
Avisos regionales
Viajes a Costa Rica
A partir de las 11:59 pm (hora local) /10:59 pm (PT) del 18 de marzo de 2020 hasta el 12 de abril de 2020, únicamente los ciudadanos costarricenses y los residentes podrán ingresar a Costa Rica. Dichas personas serán sometidas a una cuarentena obligatoria de 14 días cuando ingresen al país.
En cumplimiento de las órdenes del gobierno, los demás pasajeros no abordarán.
Se recomienda a los pasajeros que se comuniquen con la Embajada de Costa Rica para obtener más información antes del viaje. Aprende más.
En el avión
Estamos mejorando nuestra limpieza entre vuelos y continuaremos evaluando nuestros procedimientos de limpieza. Esto es adicional a la limpieza regular que efectuamos entre vuelos.
Estamos reduciendo temporalmente el servicio de alimentos y bebidas a bordo. Aprende más.
Temporalmente no volveremos a llenar un vaso que ya se ha utilizado, incluida nuestra primera clase. Alentamos a nuestros pasajeros a #FillBeforeYouFly (llene su botella antes de volar). Esto nos ayudará a reducir nuestros desechos a bordo.
Nuestros sobrecargos posiblemente usen guantes durante nuestro servicio de alimentos y bebidas.
Estamos suspendiendo nuestro servicio de toallas húmedas en Primera Clase.
Estaremos descontinuando la selección de objetos reciclables a bordo, para reducir el contacto con artículos que han sido tocados por los pasajeros. Continuaremos recolectando y reciclando materiales de servicio simple de bebidas (agua y jugo de naranja) en nuestros aviones de Horizon Air.
En algunos vuelos, estaremos removiendo nuestras tabletas de entretenimiento a bordo, excepto en vuelos de y hacia Hawaii y Florida (donde tenemos la demanda más alta), para crear espacio adicional y tener más carritos colectores de basura.
Exhortamos a nuestros pasajeros a viajar con gel desinfectante o toallitas anti-bacteriales, como medida de precaución.
Toallas anti-bacteriales pueden ser usadas para limpiar el descansabrazo y la mesita de servicio.
Nota: El uso de toallas limpiadoras de origen comercial en nuestros asientos de piel pueden deteriorar la capa superficial del asiento. La toalla parecerá estar sucia después de limpiar, pero en realidad es el tinte del color de la piel que se ha desprendido.
En el aeropuerto, nuestras salas VIP y nuestras oficinas corporativas
Estamos abasteciendo gel antibacterial a todos los aeropuertos y oficinas corporativas para ser usado en nuestros salones de descanso, comedores, mostradores de boletos y salas de espera.
En nuestras salas VIP, estamos poniendo pausa inmediatamente al uso de escaneo biométrico de huellas digitales. También hemos removido sillas en áreas de alta densidad y hemos colocado aviso para encauzar la distancia social. Estamos limitando cada localidad a un 50% de su capacidad regular. La capacidad estará anunciada cerca de la entrada a la sala VIP. Read more. (Lea más).
Estamos en constante comunicación con los aeropuertos de las localidades a las que volamos para asegurar la limpieza apropiada de lugares públicos.
Cuidando a nuestros pasajeros.
Estamos ofreciendo opciones de viajes flexibles para nuestros pasajeros que decidan no viajar debido a la preocupación causada por el virus. Vea detalles completos en alaskaair.com.
Basado en recomendaciones de expertos médicos en enfermedades infecciosas, instamos a nuestros pasajeros a no viajar si padecen de algún tipo de enfermedad respiratoria aguda.
No está de más lavarse las manos. El centro de control de enfermedades (CDC) recomienda lavarse las manos por lo menos durante 20 segundos con jabón y agua corriente limpia. Más información en cdc.gov/coronavirus/.
Preguntas y respuestas con expertos en industria de aviación y salud.
Preguntas y respuestas con expertos en industria de aviación:
¿Qué parte de los aviones de Alaska Airlines se limpian después de cada vuelo? Siempre hemos tenido un proceso de limpieza vigoroso en nuestras aeronaves y continuaremos usando desinfectantes que son efectivos para combatir virus y garantizar la seguridad de nuestros pasajeros y empleados. Como una precaución extra, hemos implementado un proceso de limpieza mejorado enhanced aircraft cleaning process entre nuestros vuelos que permanecen en tierra por más de una hora en nuestros centros de operaciones. Estamos enfocando más atención en las áreas de la cabina que son tocadas con más frecuencia como los descansabrazos, cinturones de seguridad, mesitas de servicio, los controles superiores que incluyen las rejillas de ventilación, botones de luz, botones para asistencia y el exterior e interior de las manijas de los baños. Todas las aeronaves que permanecen en tierra toda la noche son limpiadas completamente. Adicionalmente, nuestros equipos están también limpiando el frente y el revés de cada asiento, la pantalla bloqueadora de luz y las manijas de compartimentos de equipaje de mano.– Celley Buchanan, Director of Operations Support Services
¿Alaska Airlines utiliza filtros HEPA en sus rejillas de ventilación de sus aviones? Si es así, ¿Que tan efectivos son y cuantos aviones lo tienen? Si, Todos los aviones de Alaska Airlines usan filtros de Alta Eficiencia de Partículas Aéreas (HEPA, por sus siglas en inglés) como parte de sus sistemas de recirculación de aire. Se cree que los filtros HEPA son efectivos 99.95% o más para remover partículas contaminantes en el aire. A través de una combinación de aire exterior y aire reciclado, el aire en la cabina es completamente reemplazado por nuestro sistema circular de aire aproximadamente cada 2 a 3 minutos. – Constance von Muehlen, Senior Vice President of Maintenance and Engineering
¿Qué medidas está tomando Alaska Airlines para desinfectar sus salas de espera y centros de operaciones? En todos los aeropuertos que servimos, estamos exhortando a nuestros empleados a desinfectar sus areas de trabajo antes y después de laborar, incluyendo las salas de espera, mostradores de registro de vuelos, quioscos, medidores de equipaje y barras. La seguridad de nuestros pasajeros y empleados es nuestra máxima prioridad. Estamos también trabajando en conjunto con nuestros socios a cargo de la limpieza y grupos en los aeropuertos en los que servimos para establecer rondas adicionales para desinfectar las superficies de trabajo. – Wayne Newton, Vice President of Airport Operations & Customer Service
Dentro del brote deCOVID-19 , El aeropuerto internacional Seattle-Tacoma (SEA) anuncio sus medidas adicionales taking extra measures para salvaguardar la salud de sus empleados y pasajeros en sus instalaciones. Estas acciones incluyen el incremento en la frecuencia de la limpieza en las áreas de alto contacto, incluyendo los pasamanos de escaleras eléctricas, los botones de elevadores y los quioscos expedidores de pases de abordar e instalando mas gel desinfectante en los puntos de chequeo de seguridad, puentes de embarque, áreas de abordaje y centros de transportación terrestre.
¿Y qué hay acerca de las salas VIP? Estamos operando con tanta seguridad como nos es posible. Tomando todas las precauciones posibles para reducir la propagación de gérmenes. En las áreas de recepción, hemos puesto en pausa el uso de verificación por medio de huellas digitales y agregamos múltiples envases de gel desinfectante en el mostrador de registro. También le recomendamos que solo muestre su pase de abordar en lugar de darlo a nuestro personal, lo mismo pedimos con los pases que están en los teléfonos inteligentes. En nuestra área de buffet, continuarán viendo a los miembros de nuestro equipo usar guantes. También hemos incrementado la frecuencia con la que limpiamos las superficies con soluciones y toallas desinfectantes. En el buffet, Estamos constantemente reemplazando los utensilios de servicio (especialmente pinzas y cucharas servidoras) y en el bar, solo estamos sirviendo en vasos nuevos. También estamos exhortando a nuestros pasajeros a llenar su botella antes de volar #FillBeforeYouFly. Hemos reducido las torres de agua para prevenir que las botellas personales toquen la parte que dispensa el agua. Como alternativa, les pedimos que usen una de nuestras estaciones de reabastecimiento de agua o dirigirse al bar y llenaremos la botella por usted. – Alex Judson, Lounge Product Manager
Preguntas y respuestas de los expertos en salud:
Sabemos que los filtros HEPA utilizados en los aviones de Alaska Airlines son fuertes y efectivos para filtrar muchos de los patógenos en el aire. ¿El coronavirus flota en el aire? En este momento, no hay evidencia de que el virus flote en el aire y que pueda extender la infección más allá. La información con la que contamos actualmente sobre cómo se propaga el virus que causa la enfermedad por coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19), se basa en gran parte en lo que sabemos sobre coronavirus similares. Se cree que el virus se propaga principalmente de persona a persona.
Entre personas que están en contacto cercano entre sí, (a una distancia de unos 6 pies o 2 metros aproximadamente).
A través de las pequeñas gotas producidas cuando una persona infectada tose o estornuda.
Es posible que una persona pueda contraer el coronavirus al tocar una superficie u objeto que tenga el virus y después se toque la boca, la nariz y posiblemente los ojos, aunque no se cree que esta sea la forma principal de transmisión. Este virus es frágil y no sobrevive mucho tiempo en las superficies.
Si viajo, ¿qué puedo hacer para evitar contagiarme? ¡Esa es una excelente pregunta! Probablemente lo más importante que puede hacer para evitar el contagio mientras viaja, es lavarse bien las manos con frecuencia. Esto es, lavarse las manos no solo antes de comer y después de usar el baño, sino también varias veces durante el día. Otra recomendación muy importante es asegurarse de limpiar todas las superficies que contactamos frecuentemente, como las mesitas de servicio y los descansabrazos.
¿En comparación con el resto de la población, los niños y los adultos mayores son más susceptibles al virus que causa el COVID-19? Todavía tenemos mucho que aprender sobre este virus, pero hasta ahora parece no ser muy perjudicial para los niños. En la mayoría de los adultos sanos, esta infección puede ser muy similar a la gripe. Al mismo tiempo, parece ser mucho más peligroso para los adultos mayores y también para las personas que tienen problemas médicos del corazón, los pulmones y los riñones, así como para quienes sufran de alguna deficiencia inmunológica.
¿Qué tan efectivo es usar máscaras o guantes? El centro de control de enfermedades (CDC), que asesora al país en materia de salud pública, no recomienda el uso de máscaras entre las personas sanas para protegerse de enfermedades respiratorias, incluyendo COVID-19. Solo las personas que están enfermas o presenten síntomas de haber contraído el virus deberán usar las máscaras. Esto con el fin de proteger a otros del riesgo de infectarse. Al igual que las máscaras, no se recomienda el uso de los guantes si la persona no está en contacto directo con sangre o fluidos corporales. Es bien sabido que las personas que a menudo usan guantes no se lavan las manos con la frecuencia debida, que es lo más importante para evitar el contagio del COVID-19, la influenza y muchas otras infecciones.
John Lynch, M.D., M.P.H.,John Lynch, M.D., M.P.H., es un médico certificado y es director de los programas de Control de Infecciones de la Administración de Antibióticos y Salud del Centro Médico Harborview. El Doctor Lynch es también profesor asociado en Medicina, Alergias y Enfermedades Infecciosas de la Universidad de Washington. Obtuvo su M.D. y M.P.H. de la Universidad de Washington y realiza investigaciones sobre infecciones asociadas a la asistencia sanitaria.
Chloe Bryson-Cahn, MD tiene una maestría de la Facultad de Salud Pública de la Universidad de Washington y es graduada de la Facultad de Medicina Lewis Katz de la Universidad Temple. Ella completo su residencia en el Centro Médico de la UCLA y actualmente ejerce en el Centro Médico Harborview en Seattle, WA.
Preguntas más frecuentes acerca de cambios a su viaje:
Para su tranquilidad, ahora le ofrecemos opciones más flexibles para su viaje flexible travel options. Estas incluyen: No hay cargos por cambios o cancelaciones para:
Boletos adquiridos el o antes del 26 de febrero, 2020 con fecha de viaje hasta el 30 de abril, 2020.
Boletos nuevos con fecha de compra entre el 27 de febrero y el 31 de marzo, 2020.
Continuamos trabajando con expertos médicos y con las agencias federales como el centro de control y prevención de enfermedades (CDC) para evaluar nuestros procesos de prevención. También continuamos rastreando y respondiendo todas las preguntas mas frecuentes de la mejor forma posible.
¿Qué opción tengo si utilice millas? Si utilizo millas para comprar su boleto y este se encuentra dentro de nuestra política de viaje flexible one of our flexible travel policies depositaremos las millas en su cuenta de Mileage Plan.
¿Cuánto tarda el depositar las millas de vuelta a mi cuenta? Sus millas estarán disponibles en su cuenta entre 24-48 horas.
¿Qué pasa si use un cupón de acompañante? Si cancela su reservación por completo y esta incluye un cupón de acompañante, le restableceremos su certificado con la fecha de vencimiento original o junio 30, 2020, lo que ocurra mas tarde. Sírvase llamar a nuestro Departamento de Reservaciones para que uno de nuestros agentes le asista con la cancelación de boletos utilizando cupones de acompañante.
¿Qué pasa si compre un boleto no reembolsable en Primera Clase, cabina principal o boleto de premio con millas? Si usted compro un boleto no reembolsable de Primera Clase, Cabina principal o boleto de premio que este dentro de nuestra política de viaje flexible, usted podrá cambiar sin cargochange without fee o cancelar su viaje cancel your trip y depositar el valor de su boleto en la cartera electrónica de su cuenta My Account o recibir un certificado de crédito por la misma cantidad vía email.
¿Qué pasa si compre un boleto con tarifa Saver? Si usted compro una tarifa Saver que este dentro de nuestra política de viaje flexible, usted podrá cancelar su viaje cancel your trip y depositar el valor de su boleto en la cartera electrónica en su cuenta My Account o recibir un certificado de crédito por la misma cantidad via email.
¿Qué hago si ya pagué el cargo por cambio? Si por alguna razón se le cobro el cargo por cambio o cancelación a un viaje que ahora esta dentro de una de nuestras políticas flexibles, sírvase contactar a nuestro Departamento de Reservaciones. Nos encargaremos de que el cargo se envié de vuelta a la forma original de pago.
¿Qué pasa si estoy viajando después del 30 de abril? Para boletos adquiridos el o antes del 26 de febrero, 2020, nuestra política de viaje flexible solo aplica para viajes hasta el día 30 de abril, 2020. Por lo pronto, continuaremos evaluando la situación y haremos los ajustes que sean necesarios.
¿Qué opciones tengo si compre mi boleto con Expedia? ¿O si lo compre con otra agencia de viajes o aerolínea? Si compro su boleto a traves de terceros como Expedia, otra agencia de viajes o con otra aerolínea, contáctelos directamente para que le asistan.
Among the rural landscape and laidback community of Moloka‘i is a small, grassroots printshop; the place that our newest design partner, Kealopiko, calls home.
We collaborated with the local brand last November to design a new look for our amenity kits and soft goods. Today, guests traveling between Hawai‘i and our international and select U.S. mainland destinations experience the ‘Ēkaha collection, a line of thoughtfully designed products that carry messages of sustainability.
But our reason for working with Kealopiko extends beyond creating comfortable goods that help our guests rest throughout their flight.
We teamed up for the love of their brand mission…
Kealopiko was founded by three friends – Ane Bakutis, Hina Kneubuhl, and Jamie Makasobe – who share a deep love for their island home.
L to R: Hina Kneubuhl, Ane Bakutis, and Jamie Makasobe
Bakutis, a Makaha native and waterwoman, is a botanist focused on rare and endangered native plants. Kneubuhl, hailing from the island of Maui, is also a botanist and heavily involved in the ‘ōlelo Hawai‘i (Hawaiian language) revitalization movement. Makasobe, from Windward O‘ahu, is one of Paepae O He‘eia’s original caretakers of the ancient He‘eia Fishpond and specializes in public relations and interior design. Together, they form a mosaic of interconnected Hawaiian values – living in harmony with nature, perpetuating culture, and caring for their community.
Makasobe, who grew mostly in the ocean, reflecting on a shoreline on the Island of Hawai‘i.
The wāhine spent over a decade bringing Kealopiko’s brand story to life. What started as a passion project has grown into a full-time business with a brick-and-mortar shop at South Shore Market in Honolulu.
“We had great opportunities presented to us [before we started Kealopiko],” said Makasobe during a phone interview. “At the time, I was making shirts for Paepae O He‘eia to sell for fundraising and was working with a [screen] printer in the backroads of Waimānalo. We became close and he agreed to show us the process. From that point, we’d work our regular jobs in the ocean and mountains and then meet up after at his print shop to learn the craft.”
The group formed a partnership with a sustainable garment house in Los Angeles (owned by a friend), allowing them to understand the manufacturing process first before expanding production.
Makasobe shared that the early stages of Kealopiko moved at a comfortable pace.
Kealopiko's patterns are hand-designed first and inspired by what's happening in nature, the seasons and within their communities.
"When we launched our company, we hosted a pop-shop sale out of our rental home with artist Solomon Enos. News spread fast by word of mouth (pre-social media) with a group email. Our doors opened at 9 a.m. that morning and we had a full house until 6 p.m. We knew then we started something special that day."
“The demand has been a real blessing for us, and we were able to grow at a speed that allowed us to learn the industry at the same time,” she added.
Despite the growing popularity of Kealopiko’s products, the company’s creators refuse to budge on its founding principles of working hard and leaving no trace throughout their production process. Each garment is made with organic materials and sustainably dyed, cut and sewn by hand before being sold.
“We use a small batch process, which means we make a certain number of pieces every week before it goes out to our customers,” Makasobe told us. “There are not many clothing brands that actually still are a part of that start-to-finish process here in Hawai‘i.”
Cue the move to Moloka‘i…
After two years of running the business on O‘ahu, the trio moved their company to Moloka‘i. The island, known as the Friendly Island, has a small-town vibe with stretches of undeveloped (often inaccessible) land, little-to-no tourism industry, and a population with deep native Hawaiian roots. It was the perfect place to nurture their brand.
“Ane moved to Moloka‘i to start her family and we felt it was a natural fit to shift our headquarters there as well. The values of the community fit well with the three of us; being in a downtown urban setting or indoors all day just wasn’t who we were,” Makasobe said.
“Manufacturing by hand is a skill and trade that disappeared for a reason…being hands-on became unpopular and people got interested in other areas of work that didn’t require so much labor. On Moloka‘i, that work ethic is a way of life. It’s still common to hunt, catch and grow your food and take care of your spaces. That lifestyle made sense to us and aligned well with our production values.”
Bakutis and Kneubuhl at Kealopiko's Moloka‘i-based headquarters.
Those values are what made Kealopiko such a strong brand for us to work with.
“Embarking on this redesign, we knew we wanted a partner who could help us tell the stories of our island home,” said Avi Mannis, senior vice president of marketing at Hawaiian Airlines, in a news release that announced the launch. “[Kealopiko’s] sustainable production and bold, contemporary design align with our values and complement the flight experience we want to offer our guests.”
At the beginning of our conversations, our Brand team tasked Kealopiko to come up with a couple of concepts representing our mutual connection to our islands. When asked about their creative process, Makasobe noted it’s always a shared vision for what they want to “breathe life into.”
“We don’t seek out the inspiration; our ideas come from a relationship or an interest that has been established. [Our designs] are all based on experiences that all of us have been in touch with somehow, whether it’s from our work, outside projects we are involved in, what’s taking place within our communities, or what’s happening in a current the season.”
Thus, the ‘Ēkaha collection was born…
‘Ēkaha is the shared Hawaiian name of a black coral, only found in Hawai‘i and indicative of a thriving coral reef, and the bird’s nest fern, a plant that can be found in healthy rainforests. The two are paired to symbolize the delicate, yet critical, connections that exist in nature.
Makasobe showing a thriving ‘ēkaha fern.
“[This collection] was our way of sharing the creation story as the native people of this place. It speaks to duality and the importance of the relationship between land and sea,” said Makasobe. “It’s something that’s been taken care of for thousands of years and that’s why so many people enjoy coming to Hawai‘i. For us, it’s a message that makes sense to share on a global scale.”
The result of our design collaboration was a new, stylish line of amenities and soft goods that allude to a greater story of sustainability. We looked to Kealopiko to help us create a more thoughtful amenity kit free of plastic wrapping, made with environmentally friendly materials and durable enough to be used beyond the flight.
Our new amenity kit with the ‘ēkaha coral print and coconut shell button (available in International Business Class and JFK/BOS First Class).
The partnership seeks to raise awareness among our guests about the importance of preserving Hawaiian culture and our environment.
“The relationship that we have to our environment, culturally, is so important,” added Makasobe. “If we can translate and share that message with those who don’t have that relationship, whether they live here or not, and want to have that relationship, we’ve done our job. Hopefully [this collection] can give to that and exemplify that the host culture that you’re visiting believes in this so strongly. That’s what makes Hawai‘i so special. You won’t find Hawai‘i or aloha anywhere else in the world.”
Watch our design video to learn more about our partnership:
See how we’re taking our cleaning process to the next level
We’ve always had robust cleaning processes on our aircraft and will continue using disinfectants that are effective against viruses. As an extra level of precaution, we’ve implemented an enhanced aircraft cleaning process between our flights that are on the ground longer than an hour at our hubs.
We’re focusing more attention on the areas of the cabin which are touched most frequently:
Arm rests
Seat belts
Tray tables
Overhead controls: air vent, light button, call button
Exterior and interior door handles to lavatories
All of our aircraft that remain on the ground overnight get a thorough cleaning. In addition to what’s mentioned above, our crews also add these areas:
View original content to download multimedia:
If guests want more filtered air, they can simply open the vent above them. It’s important to note that the flight deck, galley areas, and lavatories get air directly from outside the aircraft. That air also gets directly exhausted outside.
John Lynch, M.D., M.P.H., John Lynch, M.D., M.P.H., es un médico certificado y es director de los programas de Control de Infecciones de la Administración de Antibióticos y Salud del Centro Médico Harborview. El Doctor Lynch es también profesor asociado en Medicina, Alergias y Enfermedades Infecciosas de la Universidad de Washington. Obtuvo su M.D. y M.P.H. de la Universidad de Washington y realiza investigaciones sobre infecciones asociadas a la asistencia sanitaria.
Chloe Bryson-Cahn, MD tiene una maestría de la Facultad de Salud Pública de la Universidad de Washington y es graduada de la Facultad de Medicina Lewis Katz de la Universidad Temple. Ella completo su residencia en el Centro Médico de la UCLA y actualmente ejerce en el Centro Médico Harborview en Seattle, WA.
