Flyback Friday: A New Fleet for a New Era

August 30, 2019
blog
Hawaiian Airlines
2 min read

In the summer of 1941, Inter-Island Airways (the former alias of Hawaiian Airlines) made its first large-scale fleet upgrade in company history. After flying amphibious planes for nearly 12 years, our founder Stan Kennedy pushed for the acquisition of three Douglas DC-3s, the aircraft recognized as the greatest of its time.

Our crews worked closely with the Douglas Aircraft Company to retrofit the new planes with fuel tanks that were suitable for transpacific travel. In preparation for what would become Douglas’ longest delivery distance at that time, the planes were first ferried from the manufacturer’s Santa Monica plant to Oakland Municipal Airport.

At the dawn of Tuesday, Aug. 26, the fleet of DC-3s took off from Oakland and headed west toward the Hawaiian Islands. After following a specific flight plan over the Pacific Ocean and flying slowly to conserve fuel for the long journey, the DC-3s rounded the eastern face of Diamond Head and turned west toward Honolulu's John Rodgers Airport (now the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport).

The trip took an estimated 14 hours and the pilots delivered all three aircraft right on schedule. Upon their arrival, they were greeted at the ramp by over 1,000 spectators seeking an up-close look at the revolutionary fleet.

The arrival of the DC-3s also marked a new era for the company, which, as the large, bold red letters painted on the fuselage announced, would from that day on be called HAWAIIAN AIRLINES.

Mystery solved: Why some of our aircraft have a windowless window seat

August 29, 2019
Stories
Dianne McGinness
2 min read

You board your flight to Maui and head to your seat – 10A. You’re excited to have a view of the Pacific Ocean for the next five hours. However, when you get to your seat, you come to find that you’re in the only one on the aircraft without a window – the windowless window seat.

Have you ever wondered why this seat exists?

Every aircraft in Alaska’s Boeing fleet has a seat or two, on the left side forward of the wing, with either partial access to a window or no window at all.

“That’s the spot where Boeing places the air conditioning riser ducts from the belly – where the air conditioners are located – to the cabin ceiling, where the air distribution ducts are at,” said John Melvin, Alaska director of fleet engineering. “The vertical ducts are located behind the passenger compartment sidewall panels and they prevent the installation of a window in one row on the left side. This is standard on all Boeing 737 aircraft, not just ours.”

On Horizon Air’s Q400 fleet, there is also a partially blocked window at row 11.

“There is an obstruction of the view from the window due to electrical conduits that pass through that area similar to the Boeing 737,” said David White, Horizon director of fleet engineering. “It’s not a complete obstruction, but the windows are located pretty far forward and aft at that seat, so the visibility is not so good.”

So, there you have it. Mystery solved!

Here’s a breakdown of our aircraft with partial access to a window or no window at all:

• 737-700 – No window in Seat 9A
• 737-800 – No window in seat 10A
• 737-900/900ER– No window in seat 11A
• Q400 – Limited window view in row 11

Customer Service Legend Ron Wallin: “He leads by example”

August 28, 2019
Stories
Denise Clifton
4 min read

On exactly the 46th anniversary of Ronald (Ron) Wallin’s hiring at Alaska Airlines, he officially became a Legend of Customer Service, the airline’s highest employee honor. Wallin was among 15 award recipients at the April 30 ceremony in Seattle that celebrated the 2019 Legends class.

According to the co-workers who know him best, however, this Ramp Service Agent who works in the Air Cargo Warehouse in Seattle achieved legendary status long ago—for his dependability, watchful commitment to safety on the job and willingness to lend a hand.

“I started working with Ron in 1977 in Ketchikan, and I’ve known him for 55-plus years,” says Larry Tinney, a Lead Ramp Service Agent who still works with Wallin, now in Seattle. “Ron has always been a positive and helpful person who works well above any standards.”

Born and raised in Ketchikan, Wallin hired on with the airline as a ramp agent in his hometown. He and his wife moved to Seattle in 1985, after their children finished high school.

Wallin, who has had different roles on the ramps in his career, now works as an early-morning runner for priority packages shipped via Alaska’s GoldStreak service. He ensures that packages are assigned to the correct flights and then rushes them from the warehouse to planes, ensuring there is time to load them.

Over the years, Wallin has handled a variety of intriguing incoming and outgoing cargo, including medical shipments—even transplant organs—that must be kept cold. He has also enjoyed participating in the airline’s annual rush shipment of the first Copper River salmon to Seattle. It reminds him of his Alaska roots.

Whatever cargo Wallin is in charge of, customers can be sure it is handled with care.

“It’s all about service,” he says. “When I want something delivered to me, I want it to arrive as soon as it can, safely. I want the same for our customers.”

Questions & answers

What’s the best thing about your job?
It has always been the people I work with. I also like doing something physical. I go to work, and I get a workout. I enjoy that.

What advice do you have for new hires?
You just have to execute on your job. That is what we always try to do.

Where do you like to travel?
Pretty much all my wife and I do now is try to spend as much time as we can with our grandkids. They are in Kansas City now, but they have moved around a bit. Visiting them has been a great way to see different parts of the country.

What do you pack on trips?
We take very little. We like going to warm places, so we bring gear for warm weather.

What should people know about you?
I’m an early riser. I work from 4 a.m. to 2 p.m., and I love the morning shift.

Kudos from Ron’s co-workers

“Ron is a Legend in my book because he leads by example. He comes to work every single day, does his job, does it really well, is always in a good mood and never calls in sick.”—Scott H., Air Freight Cargo Operations, Seattle

“Ron knows how important it is to our customers that they receive their cargo in a timely manner. He goes above and beyond to ensure that their shipments are on the flights, as expected.”—Mary Q., General Manager, Cargo, Seattle

“If you need help, Ron steps in and helps out. And he always has a good story to give you a laugh. Also, Ron always shares his cookies!”—Kim B., Supervisor, Cargo Operations, Seattle

“Ron always shows up for work with a smile on his face. He genuinely cares about the things that we ship. I love coming to work every day and working with him.”—Helene R., Lead Customer Service Agent, Air Freight Cargo Operations, Seattle

Alaska Airlines employees such as Ron Wallin are the reason for our service excellence. Join us in creating an airline people love. Visit careers.alaskaair.com.

How Alaska Airlines Foundation helps students ClimbHI – creating lift and inspiring Hawaii’s future tourism leaders

August 27, 2019
Community
Tim Thompson, state of Alaska, public affairs
4 min read

Even in high school, Geraldine “Denden” Ilan knew she wanted a career in sharing aloha.

The 2016 graduate of Waipahu High School on the island of Oahu was inspired when she joined the Leadership, Exploration and Inspiration (LEI) Program offered by ClimbHI, a nonprofit based in Honolulu that gives young people the chance to explore careers in Hawaii’s number one industry: tourism.

Geraldine “Denden” Ilan at work during her internship with the Hawaii Lodging & Tourism Association. Ilan is a former LEI program student participant and college intern. (Photo courtesy of ClimbHI.)

“At the time, I still wasn’t sure what exactly I wanted to do in the industry, but I knew that I wanted to spread the same aloha spirit that I was given during my time with LEI,” says Ilan, who is now a student at Hawaii Pacific University with an internship at the Hawaii Lodging & Tourism Association.

This combination of inspiration and opportunity is just one way that the Alaska Airlines Foundation is creating lift – investing in community programs that enable young people to imagine and reach new possibilities. (Learn more about how Alaska is creating sustainability through lift.) For 20 years, the independent 501(c)3 Alaska Airlines Foundation has been investing in communities through grants to nonprofits like ClimbHI.

“We’re here because of our communities, and our aim is to thrive together for generations to come,” says Diana Birkett Rakow, chair of the Alaska Airlines Foundation Board of Directors. “As we look out over the horizon, we will grow and expand the foundation and work with partners to help inspire, empower and equip young people to connect to career opportunities and realize strong futures.”

Julie Morikawa, ClimbHI president and CEO, with LEI program college interns. (Photo courtesy of ClimbHI.)

ClimbHI founder Julie Morikawa says her “ah-ha” moment to create the organization came when she returned home after working on the mainland in the travel and tech industries. “It became clear there was very little connection between our education system and the main industry in Hawaii,” says Morikawa, now ClimbHI’s president and CEO. “Through ClimbHI, we provide career exploration at a critical time when students are asking themselves, ‘What next?’”

“We are that bridge in connecting their current high school work and the endless opportunities that await them on their next journey,” Morikawa says.

Over 1,000 students across the Hawaiian Islands participate in ClimbHI’s LEI program each year – just one way the organization helps students explore careers in hospitality and tourism. “Whether or not a student decides to go into the (tourism) industry, the program is really about them finding their confidence to believe in their dreams and follow a path to making those dreams a reality,” Morikawa says. “We provide the inspiration and confidence so our students can follow their dreams and succeed.”

Ilan, who is also a peer mentor at Hawaii Pacific University, appreciates the wide range of experiences. “There is always something to learn about each day, and I love that there is never a dull moment in this industry,” Ilan says.

Over the past two decades, the Alaska Airlines Foundation has supported communities with cash grants to nonprofits totaling over $2 million – focusing on programs that benefit young people in the communities served by the airline.

“We’re making a long-term commitment to young people, especially those who don’t start out with easy access to opportunity,” Birkett Rakow says. “This round of donations pays homage to the Foundation’s history and commitment to communities while beginning to chart a new course for the future.”

In the first half of 2019, the Alaska Airlines Foundation made grants to the following 24 organizations:

Alaska:
Anchorage Museum
Covenant House Alaska
Girl Scouts of Alaska
Ilisagvik College
Junior Achievement of Alaska
Seward Association for the Advancement of Marine Science
Story Works
Volunteers of America – Alaska

Hawaii:
Big Brothers Big Sisters Hawaii
ClimbHI
Friends of Hawaii Robotics
Girl Scouts of Hawaii
Malama Learning Center – Islander Scholars
Nalukai Foundation

Washington:
After-School All-Stars
Asian Counseling and Referral Service
Communities in Schools
College Success Foundation
El Centro De La Raza
Juma Adventures
Reading Partners’
Seattle Education Access
Washington STEM Center
YouthCare

The Alaska Airlines Foundation is currently updating its grant guidelines, and in 2020 will expand to add grant opportunities in California and Oregon.

Hawaiian Airlines and Amadeus celebrate first flights with new software to improve operational efficiency

August 22, 2019
releases
Hawaiian Airlines
4 min read

HONOLULU – Amadeus and Hawaiian Airlines celebrated this week the first flights departing from the carrier’s Honolulu hub with new technology to improve operational productivity, maximize aircraft carrying capacity and reduce fuel burn and carbon emissions.

This summer, Hawaiian began implementing Amadeus Departure Control Flight Management (DCS FM) to optimize load planning for more than 260 daily flights between the Hawaiian Islands and throughout its growing route network connecting Hawai‘i to U.S. Mainland, Asia, Oceania and the South Pacific.

The new technology allows Hawaiian to quickly and precisely define each aircraft’s optimal load distribution using enhanced automated data feeds, including passenger numbers, cargo volume and fuel weight planned for each flight. The solution integrates seamlessly with Hawaiian Airlines’ technology.

“The fully automated capabilities of Amadeus DCS FM are helping us to improve productivity and optimize the use of aircraft capacity,” said Jon Snook, Hawaiian Airlines chief operating officer. “It also allows us to maintain our U.S. industry leading on-time performance record by combining real time and historical data to plan our flights and ensure punctual departures.”

Elena Avila, EVP and Head of Airlines for the Americas at Amadeus said, “Since the successful implementation of Amadeus DCS FM integrated as a standalone solution, fully integrated with Hawaiian Airlines’ current technology, our teams are seeing significant improvement in standardizing operations, increasing cargo capacity and reducing fuel burn.”

Hawaiian Airlines is leading the way in modernizing how airlines manage and automate their operations so employees can focus on delivering superior value to their guests and a memorable Hawaiian travel experience. Results of this new solution will include improved fuel efficiency and related fuel cost savings, the avoidance of potential delays thanks to real-time information being shared between reservation systems and aircraft loaders, and smoother departure processes.

Hawaiian is utilizing Amadeus DCS FM on its jet fleet of 24 Airbus A330, 13 A321neo and 20 Boeing 717 aircraft.

About Hawaiian Airlines

Hawaiian® has led all U.S. carriers in on-time performance for each of the past 15 years (2004-2018) 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 90th year of continuous service, Hawaiian is Hawai‘i’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 170 jet flights daily between the Hawaiian Islands, and over 260 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.

About Amadeus

Travel powers progress. Amadeus powers travel. Amadeus’ solutions connect travelers to the journeys they want through travel agents, search engines, tour operators, airlines, airports, hotels, cars and railways.

We have developed our technology in partnership with the travel industry for over 30 years. We combine a deep understanding of how people travel with the ability to design and deliver the most complex, trusted, critical systems our customers need. We help connect over 1.6 billion people a year to local travel providers in over 190 countries.

We are one company, with 19,000 employees across 70 offices. We have a global mindset and a local presence wherever our customers need us.

Our purpose is to shape the future of travel. We are passionate in our pursuit of better technology that makes better journeys.

Amadeus is an IBEX 35 company, listed on the Spanish Stock Exchange under AMS.MC.

To find out more about Amadeus, visit www.amadeus.com.

Hawaiian Airlines Is An Economic Driver of Hawai‘i

August 22, 2019
releases
Hawaiian Airlines
3 min read

HONOLULU – Hawaiian Airlines generated the equivalent of $9.3 billion in economic benefit for the state of Hawai‘i and supported more than 60,000 jobs in 2018, according to an independent report conducted in recognition of the airline’s 90th year of service to the state and its people.

The analysis by ICF, a global consulting services company with specialized expertise in aviation and other industries, examined the most recent publicly available full-year data to assess Hawaiian’s economic impact to its home state.

“Due to the State’s unique geography, HA (Hawaiian Airlines) provides a service to Hawai‘i that is unmatched anywhere else in the U.S. and most of the world,” the report concluded. “The regional economy would be severely stalled without the airline’s inter-island, domestic and international flights.”

Hawai‘i’s oldest and longest-serving airline, whose core mission to serve Hawai‘i has guided its global growth since its founding as Inter-Island Airways on Nov. 11, 1929, today employs more than 7,300 people and operates more than 260 daily flights between the Hawaiian Islands and connecting Hawai‘i to the U.S. Mainland, Asia, Oceania and the South Pacific.

The report, which was commissioned by the airline, noted that in addition to direct benefits derived from visitor and employee spending, the airline generates regional employment and revenue through spending on daily operations, capital investments, and indirect spending by visitors and passengers. Highlights from the report include:

Hawai‘i economist Paul Brewbaker, who also contributed to the report, noted: "Hawaiian Airlines' 90-year history is the modern economic history of Hawai‘i, opening it to commerce and trade in services by connecting the islands with each other and the world."

In addition to a comprehensive economic impact analysis, the report profiles five local entities that share their experiences about working with and using Hawaiian Airlines. Whether delivering perishable medical supplies, transporting high value cargo or flying students between neighboring islands for athletic competition and community service opportunities, the airline is a cornerstone in maintaining a superior quality of life for residents.

And, finally, the report details Hawaiian’s Team Kōkua giving program, which includes both monetary donations and employee volunteerism supporting culture, education, environment and health and human services.

“We take great pride in all we do to connect residents, businesses and families,’’ said Peter Ingram, president and CEO of Hawaiian Airlines. “We are proud to have been Hawai‘i’s airline for 90 years, and we intend to be here serving the needs of our home state for at least 90 more.”

To view the full report, click here.

Meet the Artist Behind Our Limited-Edition Holoholo Slurpee® Design

August 22, 2019
blog
Hawaiian Airlines
4 min read

What do you get when Hawaiian Airlines collaborates with 7-Eleven Hawai‘i? Nothing other than the Holoholo Slurpee^® with Hawaiian Airlines! The Slurpee^® flavor was inspired by our signature passion-orange-guava-nectar in-flight juice. Last month Hawaiian Airlines^® Bank of Hawaii World Elite Mastercard^®, Harders Hawaii, and 7-Eleven Hawai‘i teamed up to launch this limited-time flavor that gives us all nostalgia for Neighbor Island travel.

As part of the celebration, we launched our large-size Slurpee^® cup and exclusive stickers designed by local artist Derick Fabian.

Fabian, who also goes under the alias 7Sketches, is a graphic designer by trade and artist by appetite. In brainstorming the look of the new limited-edition drink, he channeled the island-inspired flavors of the juice and the meaning of “Holoholo” (to travel leisurely) to create five jet-setting animals. The characters, which include a couple of pueo (Hawaiian owl), a honu (sea turtle), a lucky cat, a rabbit, and a mother and baby panda, each peer out the window of an aircraft and embody the on-the-go spirit of island hopping aboard Hawaiian.

“Passion-orange-guava-nectar juice always brings me back to being inside of a Hawaiian Airlines plane, especially when I was a kid from Kaua‘i flying to O‘ahu to go shopping,” said Fabian. “I remember rushing through the aisles and looking out the windows as Kaua‘i grew smaller and smaller. These characters are representations of that feeling I had flying when I was little.”

Fabian’s art is inspired by his interest of, well, a lot of different things, including traveling throughout Hawai‘i and Japan, anime, kawaii culture, and graffiti art. This mish-mash of techniques is what makes the 7Sketches brand stand out amongst O‘ahu’s latest cohort of artists.

7Sketches_PowWowHawaii2019_PC_brendendonahue_

Before the Holoholo Slurpee^® collaboration, Fabian was building his brand online and working with brick-and-mortar stores like Big Bad Wolf. His first big break came in 2018 when he was invited to create a large-scale mural during the popular POW! WOW! Hawai‘i street art festival.

Fabian’s mural in the 2019 POW! WOW! Hawai‘i street art festival

Despite his growing popularity, Fabian adopts a laid-back business style, a testament to his personality, and creates his work from passion. When we asked for the story behind 7Sketches, the answer was unexpectedly simple: “Seven is my favorite number and I love to sketch,” he laughed.

Brighson Tolentino, coordinator of loyalty and travel products at Hawaiian Airlines, knew Fabian was the artist for the Slurpee^®campaign from the start.

“As we began discussions of the Slurpee^®cup design, 7-Eleven Hawai‘i already had 7Sketches in mind for the job,” Tolentino said. “Since Hawaiian Airlines is one of the founding sponsors of the POW! WOW! Hawai‘i festival, we were familiar with Derick’s vibrant, animated style and knew almost immediately that it was going to be a great fit.”

Tolentino (left) and Fabian (right) visited their neighborhood 7-Eleven to get their own Holoholo Slurpee®.

You can still slurp on the Holoholo Slurpee^®in Fabian’s cups and collect his character stickers by visiting any 7-Eleven Hawai‘i locations through the end of the month. If you’re a Hawaiian Airlines^® Bank of Hawaii World Elite MasterCard^® or Bankoh Hawaiian Airlines^® Visa^® Debit cardmember, you can also earn two bonus miles per $1 spent when you spend $11 or more at any 7-Eleven Hawai‘i store.

To learn more about our partnership with 7-Eleven Hawai‘i or to find the nearest store location, click here.

The Hawaiian Airlines Bank of Hawaii Mastercard is issued by Barclays Bank Delaware (Barclays) pursuant to a license by Mastercard International Incorporated. Mastercard is a registered trademark, and the circles design is a trademark of Mastercard International Incorporated.

The Bankoh Hawaiian Airlines Visa Debit Card is used by Bank of Hawaii. VISA is a registered trademark of Visa International Service Association and used under license.

Growing Local Businesses at the Made in Hawaii Festival

August 15, 2019
blog
Hawaiian Airlines
3 min read

As the flagship carrier of Hawai‘i for nine decades, we are proud to indulge our guests in the flavors, sights and sounds of the Islands each time they fly with us. Behind the scenes, we’re working closely with movers and shakers across the state to weave their products and stories into the flight experience.

Photo credit: Made in Hawaii Festival

Hawaiian Airlines is the Official Airline Sponsor of the 25th Annual Made in Hawaii Festival (MIHF), sharing our love for local products with kama‘āina statewide.

The upcoming three-day marketplace will feature hundreds of Hawai‘i businesses from throughout the Islands, including our interactive, entrepreneur-focused booth done in collaboration with our partner, Mana Up, a local initiative helping companies scale their products.

What to Expect at MIHF

Festival attendees who stop by the Hawaiian Airlines x Mana Up booth will learn more about the stories behind six featured brands: Hanalei, Kunoa Cattle Company, Macapan, Manele Spice Company, Kaimana Jerky, and Voyaging Foods. Visitors can also purchase products, speak to select business owners and play to win exclusive prizes.

Photo credit: Made in Hawaii Festival

Click here to learn more about Hawaiian Airlines at this year’s Made in Hawaii Festival.

Our Partnership With Mana Up

Hawaiian Airlines first launched its partnership with Mana Up in 2018 as part of a long-term commitment to support island-based retail and food companies. Through this collaboration, local businesses can leverage our robust flight route network to reach a global audience while also complementing our award-winning service.

“Our goal in working together is to support innovative minds from our island home and share their local products with our guests on a global scale,” said Robert Sorensen, vice president of marketing at Hawaiian Airlines.

Today, our guests can enjoy in-flight products sourced from three businesses that have participated in Mana Up’s product accelerator program. These companies include:

Hawaiian Pie Company

The Hawaiian Pie Company is a family-owned bakery known for its delectable artisan pies and home-style baked goods. Guests flying to the U.S. Mainland in our First Class cabin receive a bite-size baked pie as part of our Hawai‘i-inspired meal service.*

Hanalei

Hanalei creates gentle skincare products, inspired by Hawaii’s lush, tropical landscape and native botanicals. Made with treasured tropical ingredients ranging from pressed kukui nut oil, aloe, papaya, lavender and raw cane sugar, their unique formulations are perfect for everyday use and for any skin type. Hanalei’s beauty products can be purchased on our international flights from our Duty Free catalog.

Kunoa Cattle Company

Kunoa Cattle Company is a sustainable Hawai‘i meat company. It manages a herd of several thousand cattle on Kaua‘i, operates Hawaii’s largest meatpacking facility, and sells fresh and value-added Hawai‘i meat products to retailers, food service, and direct to consumers. Kunoa’s beef bar can be purchased on all U.S. Mainland and select international flights from our Pau Hana Cart.

Serving Local at 35,000 Feet

Our guests can experience the tastes of Hawai‘i through a variety of local products available onboard our aircraft, from Maui-brewed beer to locally roasted coffee. The list continues to grow, and today includes:

Aloha Maid POG	Kona Chips
Aloha Wai	Kunoa Cattle Company
Cropsticks (coming Sept. 1)	La Tour Bakehouse
Hawaiian Chip Company	Lion Coffee
Hawaiian Host	Maui Brewing Company
Honolulu Pie Company	Ocean Vodka
Honolulu Cookie Company	Primo Popcorn
Island Princess	Samurai
Koloa Rum	Tea Chest Hawaii

To learn more about what we offer on our aircraft, click here.

*Excludes redeye flights

It’s happening! Flights between Everett’s Paine Field and Spokane now on sale

August 14, 2019
Stories
Ray Lane
2 min read

When it comes to adding new destinations from Paine Field, we heard your love for the Lilac City loud and clear. So, Snohomish County – say hello to Spokane!

We’re excited to launch daily, nonstop jet service between Paine Field in Everett and Spokane in Eastern Washington starting Nov. 4 – just in time for holiday travel.

You can buy your Alaska Airlines tickets now for our 10th announced destination from Paine Field.

Here’s the flight schedule:

Effective Date	City Pair	Departs	Arrives	Frequency	Aircraft
Nov. 4, 2019	Everett-Spokane	7:55 p.m.	9:10 p.m.	Daily	E175
Nov. 5, 2019	Spokane-Everett	7:40 a.m.	8:55 a.m.	Daily	E175

“When it comes to flights at Paine Field, our guests have been eager for one city to be added above all others right now – they said make it Spokane,” said David Besse, our manager of network planning. “We believe this route will be very popular, easily connecting family and friends, workers and businesses, between two dynamic regions of the state.”

Our start of service at Paine Field began just five months ago. In that short time, flying in and out of Everett has become a popular, convenient option for many travelers, especially those who live north of Seattle. It prevents a drive to Sea-Tac Airport. As of late July, nearly 300,000 guests have flown with us at Paine Field.

All Alaska flights at Paine Field are operated by Horizon Air with jet service using the Embraer 175 aircraft, which features a three-class cabin. From Paine Field, guests can currently fly to eight destinations: Las Vegas; Los Angeles; Orange County, California; Phoenix; Portland, Oregon; San Diego; San Francisco; and San Jose, California. Alaska recently announced Palm Springs will become its ninth destination from Everett, with tickets already on sale.

The sky really is the limit from Paine Field. Our guests can connect with our Global Partners at our gateway airports on the West Coast – such as Los Angeles and San Francisco – to fly to more than 900 destinations around the globe. Flyers can also earn and redeem miles with our highly-acclaimed Mileage Plan program.

Creating lift: Imagine what’s possible for the environment, our communities and our people

August 13, 2019
Sustainability
Alaska Airlines
4 min read

If you’ve flown with a kid lately, you know that the moment the airplane leaves the ground, it feels like magic. In fact, the Alaska Airlines employees-turned-elves Fantasy Flight crew in Spokane, Washington, have made that magic very real the first weekend of every December for the last 20 years—giving kids who wouldn’t otherwise have the opportunity a ride to “Santa’s workshop” for holiday cheer, warm clothes and a gift request come true.

That magical moment is thanks to the physics concept of “lift.” Centuries upon centuries after sailboats used this concept to cross oceans, engineers built curves into airplane wings—forcing air above the wing to travel farther, and therefore faster, than air below the wings, lifting the plane into the air.

But what if we could translate this idea, the collective force of air particles acting around a wing, into our environment, our communities and the people who make up our business? In its origin, lift was a bold idea—seemingly simple, but creating infinite possibilities for people, commerce and connection.

For us, it’s both our past and our future. It’s why we work here. We love aviation, and we know that being a resilient, responsible business requires us to create lift on all fronts. It means investing in our people, cultivating a diverse and talented workforce, innovating to reduce our environmental impact and resource use, using our flying to support those in need, and enabling and inspiring young people to pursue their dreams.

These aren’t easy things, and we don’t have all the answers. We value the chance to partner with those who are also on the path to fly and live greener, better, more sustainably. In 2018, we worked hard across Alaska and Horizon toward our social and environmental impact goals and priorities:

Removing 22 million plastic straws and stir sticks from our aircraft in favor of sustainable alternatives
Improving our inflight recycling—already the best in the business—by Integrating our inflight service training across all aircraft types in our mainline fleet
Half of our independent board members are women—and we were the first West Coast based Fortune 500 company to do this. This means better diversity of thought, and ultimately better decisions
Bringing the total number of Airbus 321 neo aircraft in our fleet to eight, each over 50% more efficient than the older Airbus 319s.
Signing memorandum of understanding agreements with Sea-Tac International Airport, San Francisco International Airport, and Neste, a sustainable fuels company, to continue to figure out ways to be more fuel-efficient and to make sustainable aviation jet fuel a commercially viable and locally-produced option

How we are creating lift at Alaska Airlines

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(Graphic by Jason Wilcox, Alaska Airlines)

We also began to focus our social impact to inspire, empower, and enable young people—especially those who don’t start out with a lot of opportunity—to make career connections and improve economic mobility. We’re making a long-term commitment to hone our own version of lift: fueling to explore and learn critical thinking and critical skills; mentoring and enabling programs for kids to find their voice and believe in their strengths; providing internships for young people to explore work pathways; and hiring, training and promoting a diverse workforce. We’ll continue to learn with and from our people, our partners and our communities about where and how we can best contribute.

We’re made of up 23,000 and the many more who’ve served our company over the decades. Millions more fly with us, inspire us and keep us striving for better ways to serve. Many of these remarkable people started with us as young people themselves, growing families, exploring new realms of aviation or growing their careers to finish school and try new things. As our hubs and the beautiful places we live and fly continue to grow and flourish, we owe it to each other to be strong, resilient and thriving for the long term.

That kind of lift will take all of us. Thank you for being part of this journey.

Learn more about how we are creating lift through sustainability.

Hawaiian Airlines to Launch New Maui-Las Vegas Flights in December

August 12, 2019
releases
Hawaiian Airlines
4 min read

A330-Guest_MaleFA_V2_3067DoubleWing_72jpg_mid

HONOLULU – Maui residents visiting Hawai‘i’s adopted “ninth island” will be able to fly straight to the popular Nevada destination when Hawaiian Airlines inaugurates its newest narrow-body Airbus A321neo aircraft route later this year. The airline announced today that it will begin four-times-weekly service between Maui’s Kahului Airport (OGG) and Las Vegas’ McCarran International Airport (LAS) on December 15.

To celebrate the new route, Hawaiian is offering special $199 one-way fares through Aug. 14 at www.HawaiianAirlines.com. As a mahalo to the airline’s loyal frequent flyers, new and existing HawaiianMiles members will also receive an additional 10 percent discount when booking nonstop flights between Maui and Las Vegas during the promotional period.

The airline today also announced the start of sales for two other new A321neo routes — thrice-weekly nonstop service between Honolulu’s Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) starting Jan. 7; and seasonal winter service between OGG and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) from Dec. 14 through Jan. 5. The new flights complement existing daily nonstop service offered on each route with wide-body Airbus A330 aircraft.

“Hawaiian has been carrying local residents to and from Las Vegas, and welcoming our Nevada visitors to Hawai‘i for over 30 years,” said Peter Ingram, president and CEO at Hawaiian Airlines. “We’re thrilled to once again offer the convenience of nonstop flights between the Valley Isle and the ninth island. We’re also excited to add a second Honolulu-Seattle flight and seasonal service between Maui and Los Angeles, offering our guests more options when traveling between Hawai‘i and the U.S. West Coast.”

Kahului (OGG) – Las Vegas (LAS)

FLIGHT	ROUTE	DEPARTS	ARRIVES	FREQUENCY	START DATE
HA32	OGG-LAS	8:50 p.m.	4:30 a.m.	Mon., Wed., Fri., Sun.	Dec. 15, 2019
HA31	LAS-OGG	6:30 a.m.	11:00 a.m.	Mon., Tues., Thurs., Sat.	Dec. 16, 2019

Honolulu (HNL) – Seattle (SEA)

FLIGHT	ROUTE	DEPARTS	ARRIVES	FREQUENCY	START DATE
HA28	HNL-SEA	10:00 p.m.	5:50 a.m.	Tues., Thurs., Sat.	Jan. 7, 2020
HA27	SEA-HNL	7:20 a.m.	11:40 a.m.	Wed., Fri., Sun.	Jan. 8, 2020

Kahului (OGG) – Los Angeles (LAX)

FLIGHT	ROUTE	DEPARTS	ARRIVES	FREQUENCY	START DATE	END DATE
HA56	OGG-LAX	9:45 p.m.	5:00 a.m.	Tues., Thurs., Sat.	Dec. 14, 2019	Jan. 4, 2020
HA55	LAX-OGG	12:00 p.m.	3:50 p.m.	Wed., Fri., Sun.	Dec. 15, 2019	Jan. 5, 2020

Hawaiian first launched Honolulu-Las Vegas service in September 1985 with Lockheed L-1011 aircraft, and previously operated OGG-LAS flights from October 2010 to October 2012 with Boeing 767 aircraft. Hawaiian, which today offers up to three daily nonstop flights between Honolulu and Las Vegas with A330 aircraft, carried more than 470,000 guests between the two cities in 2018.

On the new flights between Maui and Las Vegas, Hawaiian will welcome guests into the comfort of its quiet and fuel-efficient A321neo aircraft. The A321neo features 16 luxurious leather recliners in First Class, 44 Extra Comfort premium economy seats, and 129 Economy seats. In addition to Hawaiian's warm hospitality, including complimentary meals and in-flight entertainment, guests will have access to USB outlets and additional overhead stowage space.

About Hawaiian Airlines
Hawaiian® has led all U.S. carriers in on-time performance for each of the past 15 years (2004-2018) 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 90th 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 170 jet flights daily between the Hawaiian Islands, and over 260 daily flights system-wide.

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

Hawaiian Airlines Awarded New Haneda-Honolulu Route

August 10, 2019
releases
Hawaiian Airlines
3 min read

HONOLULU – Hawaiian Airlines today confirmed plans to increase service between Tokyo and Honolulu in the summer of 2020, after receiving final U.S. Department of Transportation approval to operate one additional daily nonstop flight between Haneda Airport (HND) and Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL).

“As the U.S. airline offering the most flights to the most markets between Japan and Hawai‘i, we look forward to building on the popularity of our authentic Hawaiian hospitality by adding another convenient option for guests traveling between Haneda and Honolulu,” said Peter Ingram, president and CEO of Hawaiian Airlines. “Our new service will allow more travelers from Tokyo and beyond to enjoy our unparalleled network of flights connecting Japan and the Hawaiian Islands.”

Hawaiian’s new Haneda slot will enable the airline to substantially grow connectivity to banks of flights departing and arriving from points throughout Japan with codeshare partner Japan Airlines, increasing the quantity and quality of service options as well as needed competition in some underserved locales ahead of the 2020 Olympic Summer games.

Hawaiian has significantly invested in the Japan-Hawai‘i market since it launched daily Haneda-Honolulu flights in 2010 and became the first U.S. airline to serve the Tokyo airport. In 2016, Hawaiian added additional flights at Haneda, serving Honolulu four times a week and Kona three times per week. That same year, the carrier also commenced daily flights between Tokyo’s Narita airport and Honolulu.

Hawaiian, which today operates a leading 31 weekly nonstop flights between Japan and Hawai‘i with wide-body Airbus A330 aircraft, will further expand its network on Nov. 26, when it begins four weekly flights between Fukuoka and Honolulu. The airline also offers flights between Hawai‘i and both Kansai International Airport in Osaka and New Chitose Airport in Sapporo.

Today’s announcement by the U.S. DOT comes as Hawaiian and JAL await government approvals for their antitrust immunized joint venture application. The proposed alliance, which promises significant consumer benefits including lower fares, increased capacity and enhanced consumer choice, would facilitate Hawaiian’s access to 34 destinations throughout Japan, including Nagoya and Okinawa, as well as 11 points in Asia beyond Japan. Japan Airlines and its customers, in turn, would enjoy improved access to Hawaiian’s Neighbor Island network as well as its non-stop flights to Honolulu from Haneda and Sapporo.