Capturing the journey: A photographer’s guide to making great photos from your airplane seat

August 2, 2019
Destinations
Ingrid Barrentine
10 min read

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Photography by Ingrid Barrentine

There’s a bit of a wow factor to the job title, staff photographer at Alaska Airlines. It does include glamorous moments: celebrity partnerships, behind-the-scenes views, and of course, my favorite part – the airplane travel. To be fair, not everything is dazzling. There is constant pressure to deliver perfect images and I spend a lot of days (and nights) away from my two young girls and incredibly supportive husband. But the positives far outweigh any negative as I frequently – meaning, more than 70 flights in the past 12 months – find myself jetting up and down the West Coast.

Ingrid Barrentine on the 2017 Great American Eclipse flight.

My love of travel isn’t new. I grew up in a small town where travel meant road trips, and my family of six was good at them. We loved them so much that we took a year sabbatical, crammed into an RV, and meandered across the United States. It was on that trip, while in the red rock canyons of the American Southwest, that I began to see photography as a way of capturing the journey. I was 15 and my father, who loved landscape photography but had discovered an interest in camcorder-crafted video, handed me his Nikon film camera and asked me to help document our adventure. I didn’t know what I was doing, but I was hooked. I had to travel. And I had to travel with a camera. Fast-forward to my first time on an airplane – at 17 – and that wanderlust exploded. I spent the better part of the next few years traveling – with a camera – to Europe, where I worked in Romania as a volunteer educator. Once back in the U.S., I went to school for photography and landed an internship with my local newspaper. Learning how to tell stories with a camera turned into career gold and I’m forever grateful that I get to do what I love. Every. Single. Day.

Enough about me! Let’s talk about my office – the airplane. The romantic notion of photographing air travel can be quickly dashed by the realization that an airplane is NOT an easy place to make nice images. It’s often crowded and you have no control over the light. That said, here are some things you can do to ensure that you document the story of your trip from the start.

What are some tools for creating good photos on a plane?

Do you own a professional camera or do you make images with your phone? You can capture good photos with both! The key is to plan ahead.

For a DSLR, make sure your ISO and/or shutter speed are high enough to stop motion. Choose a versatile lens. I personally like the 24-70 2.8mm or the 35 or 50 1.4mm. These lenses are small and can be handheld with no issues.

If a phone is your camera of choice, make sure you have enough free memory to handle all your vacation images. And don’t forget your charging cable! Good natural light always helps a phone image look better, so try and snag a window seat. A multitude of apps help make phones powerful storytelling tools. You can capture video, stills, and create time-lapses. Just remember to focus lock on your subject. (Google it for your type of phone.) Photo-retouching apps like Snapseed are affordable and offer a lot of customization options. Social media powers like Instagram allow you to share your adventure in real time. And they provide some pretty fun tools – boomerangs anyone? – to help you get creative as you capture your journey.

What apps might help me take or alter that perfect shot?

For mobile:
Snapseed: A popular image editing app.
Lightroom: The phone app is my mobile editing method of choice.
ImgPlay Pro: A fun gif maker – think IG stories.
iMovie: A great app for cutting video clips on the fly.
Unfold: A lovely IG story layout app. Makes those stories pop!
LightTrac: Want to know where the sun will be at any given moment in a specific location? This is your friend.
FlightAware: This is handy if you’re interested in watching your flight’s path.

For laptop:
Adobe Creative Suite: Photoshop and Lightroom are the perfect tools to edit your images.
PhotoMechanic: A photojournalist’s best friend! And a fabulous software for ingesting, sorting and tagging imagery.

What are three things people can do to get a great shot out an airplane window?

1. Choose a window seat.

It is more challenging to get good inflight images from an aisle seat, so I always opt for the window. Choose your seat based on what side of the plane will have the most interesting scenery. Look up the flight route on a map. And this site lists all aircraft seat maps. For example, if I’m flying from Seattle to California, I’ll choose a window seat on the left side of the plane (the A seats), so that I will be able to capture imagery of Mount Rainier as I’m flying by.

Pro-tip: Add a screen wipe or soft cotton cloth to your travel bag. Sometimes the windows need a little cleaning.

If your window seat is in the front of the plane, you can capture unobstructed views of the landscape like the image of Molokini on the approach to Maui.

Camera data: Canon 5D Mark IV, 24-70 2.8 lens, ISO 640 Aperture 3.5, Shutter Speed 1/3200

Whereas if you’re sitting on the wing, you’ll have to incorporate it into the view.

One of our aircraft – the Airbus A320neo – has a unique small round window mid-cabin. I love how the shape of this window perfectly frames the wing. Camera data: Canon 5D Mark IV, 24-70 2.8 lens, ISO 400 Aperture 5.6, Shutter Speed 1/8000

And if your seat is in the back, the wing will frame the landscape below like in this next image above downtown San Francisco.

Pro-tip: If you’re flying to SEA from SFO, choose a window seat on the A side. More often than not, you’ll have a fabulous view of the city as you circle it after takeoff.

Camera data: Canon 5D Mark IV, 70-200 2.8 lens, ISO 145 Aperture 2.8, Shutter Speed 1/5000

Incorporate storytelling aircraft elements like the window or wing to give the viewer a sense of place.

Banking over West Seattle. Camera data: Nikon D4, 35mm 1.4 lens, ISO 250 Aperture 6.3, Shutter Speed 1/2000

2. Look for the light.

Select your seat based upon the time of day. Do you take off at sunrise? Do you want to shoot into the sun? Will you land at sunset? Look at the route the aircraft will take and if possible, select your seat based on where you want to be to capture the best light.

Sunrise above the clouds. Camera data: Canon 5D Mark IV, 24-70 2.8 lens, ISO 200 Aperture 2.8, Shutter Speed 1/500

Dusk and Mount Rainier. Camera data: Canon 5D Mark IV, 24-70 2.8 lens, ISO 160 Aperture 2.8, Shutter Speed 1/1250

Twilight over Boston. Camera data: Canon 5D Mark IV, 24-70 2.8 lens, ISO 5000 Aperture 2.8, Shutter Speed 1/20

3. Keep your camera with you at all times.

This sounds like I’m stating the obvious, but if you stow your camera for takeoff and landing, you might miss those interesting angles when you are nearer to the ground. I have my camera and a versatile lens – such as a 24-70mm – in my hands as we ascend and descend. Don’t have a fancy camera? A phone will do! Just make sure it is in airplane mode.

Sometimes the plane circles a destination prior to landing, which can give you an opportunity to capture unique angles.

Approach into SEA. Camera data: Nikon D4s, 24 1.4 lens, ISO 50 Aperture 7.1, Shutter Speed 1/200

West Maui – Highway 30. Camera data: Canon 5D Mark IV, 24-70 2.8 lens, ISO 640 Aperture 3.5, Shutter Speed 1/8000

Takeoff at SEA from the window of a Q-400. I slowed my shutter speed to capture the movement of the aircraft engine blades. Camera data: Canon 5D Mark IV, 24-70 2.8 lens, ISO 100 Aperture 4.5, Shutter Speed 1/125

What is your favorite inflight photo and why?

During the Great American Eclipse, I was fortunate to fly with Alaska Airlines and document the event. We had a small window of opportunity to capture totality from 35,000 feet and I wanted to make sure to show an element of the aircraft that was unique to the airline and told the story of us witnessing the event from the air. The pilots and NASA scientists worked their magic and put us in a perfect position to capture the moment. I had 30 seconds to nail the exposure, make sure I had proper focus and line the wing up with the eclipse. Fortunately it worked! The image was shared around the world and the whole experience was one that I won’t soon forget.

Camera data: Nikon D4s, 24 1.4 lens, ISO 400 Aperture 3.2, Shutter Speed 1/80

What are some fun ideas for documenting your journey on a plane? Especially if you get bored?

I personally am a fan of the Instagram story. And if you don’t have a fancy camera, it’s OK because you can make a story on your phone! Telling the story of my trip from boarding to landing is always fun. I like to capture my food (cheese plate, anyone?) and beverage and the window seat views along the way. If you get really bored, play around with Hyperlapse of the scenery or clouds going past your window.

Do you have tips for taking photos of kids while you travel?

I frequently fly with my two daughters and love to watch them process all things travel. From arriving at the airport to takeoff, most kids love to fly. So capturing their excitement is something I enjoy. When we all fly together, I snag the aisle seat and have them take turns at the window (outbound for one, and the return trip for the other). The aisle position allows me to photograph them at the window or together in their seats. As always when traveling with kids, pack your patience! I’ve given up trying to find the perfect angle and instead aim to capture them being them.

Pro-tip: Turn up your ISO and use a wide aperture like f2.8 when you’re on the plane and you’ll have much better results freezing the motion that is a fidgeting child in the darker space of a plane.

Camera data: Nikon D4s, 35 1.4 lens, ISO 640 Aperture 3.2, Shutter Speed 1/200

Camera data: Nikon D4s, 35 1.4 lens, ISO 2000 Aperture 2.2, Shutter Speed 1/80.

Camera data: Nikon D4, 24 1.4 lens, ISO 1250 Aperture 3.5, Shutter Speed 1/3200.

What about airports? Any interesting insights to offer people before they get on a plane?

As a frequent flier, I spend a good amount of time in airports. I’ve also purchased a lounge membership so I can grab a pre-flight coffee or snack in a quiet space. When traveling with camera equipment, I try and pack only what I can carry on the aircraft. I keep my cameras close so that I can make images prior to boarding. You never know when you’ll catch a rainbow before your flight!

On the ground at Sea-Tac International Airport. Camera data: Nikon D4s, 80-200 2.8 lens, ISO 200 Aperture 3.2, Shutter Speed 1/400.

Hawaiian Airlines Appoints Robin Kobayashi as Interim Senior Vice President of Human Resources

August 1, 2019
releases
Hawaiian Airlines
2 min read

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HONOLULU – Hawaiian Airlines today announced the appointment of Robin Kobayashi as interim senior vice president of human resources. In her new role, Kobayashi leads Hawaiian’s employment strategy, recruitment efforts, and the administration of benefits, recognition programs, talent management and labor relations for the airline’s 7,300 employee workforce.

“Robin’s leadership and expertise managing labor and employment initiatives made her a standout candidate for this position,” said Peter Ingram, president and CEO at Hawaiian Airlines. “As we expand our business, I look forward to continue working alongside Robin to grow and support our employee ‘ohana.”

Kobayashi, who brings two decades of legal experience to her new post, previously served as Hawaiian’s managing director and associate general counsel of labor and employment. Throughout her tenure, she successfully oversaw the company’s labor and employment efforts related to the Office of Federal Compliance Programs, equal employment opportunity, and privacy. Kobayashi has also served as the executive director of the Hawaii Immigrant Justice Center and was a staff attorney on the National Labor Relations Board in Washington D.C.

Born and raised on O‘ahu, Kobayashi earned a Juris Doctor from the University of Washington and a bachelor’s degree in English literature from the University of Hawai‘i.

Hawaiian Airlines Hiring in Kahului, Līhu‘e and Kona

July 31, 2019
releases
Hawaiian Airlines
2 min read

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HONOLULU – Hawaiian Airlines is recruiting for guest service, cargo and ramp agent positions at Kahului Airport, Līhu‘e Airport and Kona International Airport. The airline will be holding open houses to provide more information about the career opportunities on the following dates and locations:

Location	Open House	Deadline to Register
Kahului, Maui	Saturday, Aug. 3	Friday, Aug. 2 at noon
Līhu‘e, Kaua‘i	Saturday, Aug. 10	Friday, Aug. 9 at noon
Kona, Island of Hawai‘i	Saturday, Aug. 17	Friday, Aug. 16 at noon

Job seekers interested in attending any of the open house sessions being held from 9 a.m. through 3 p.m. should register online at https://www.hawaiianairlines.com/careers/career-events.

Hawaiian Airlines guest service agents welcome guests with the airline’s signature Hawaiian hospitality at the ticket counter and gate. Ramp agents are responsible for loading and offloading guests’ baggage with care and in a timely manner. Cargo agents provide personalized services and solutions to meet customer shipping needs.

Please visit www.HawaiianAirlines.com/Careers for a list of all job openings with Hawaii’s hometown airline.

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 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 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.

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

How to use Alaska miles to fly globally

July 31, 2019
Loyalty
Scott Mackenzie
4 min read

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As a frequent flyer – and a longtime fan of Alaska Airlines – I’ve earned and redeemed more than a million miles with Alaska over the last decade. Along the way, I’ve learned some tips that can make your international travel experience with Mileage Plan a little more rewarding.

Take advantage of free stopovers: Booking award travel on Alaska Global Partners follows different rules than you may be accustomed to with other airline loyalty programs. Each partner has its own award chart, so you can’t combine multiple partners on the same award. What you can do is book different partners in each direction, so a roundtrip itinerary can have two partners, plus additional flights operated by Alaska Airlines or Horizon Air.

Mileage Plan makes up for this with free stopovers that let you visit two or three cities for the price of one. Let’s say you’re booking a trip to Singapore. Consider flying on Japan Airlines to Tokyo: Stop there for a few days, and then continue your journey to Singapore. On the way back, you could visit Hong Kong before continuing home with Cathay Pacific. Singapore Airlines also recently became a Mileage Plan partner.

Singapore’s Changi Airport opened its new Jewel hub – with a five-story waterfall – in June 2019. Singapore Airlines also adds a new direct Seattle-Singapore route on September 3. (Photo by Kim I. Mott)

Always search for award travel one flight at a time. An itinerary with connections will require that every flight has award space. If one flight is missing, you’ll see zero results. The solution is to search for the longest flight first and consider a few alternatives before building out the rest of the itinerary.

Imagine you want to fly from Sacramento to Barcelona. Look for flights to London on British Airways that depart from San Jose, San Francisco or Los Angeles. After you find availability, look for flights from Sacramento to your local international gateway, and for a connecting flight from London to Barcelona. Record the dates of each flight and perform a new multicity search to book the complete trip.

Call on agents for assistance. When searching for award availability on alaskaair.com, be aware that award-travel options on some carriers can be more difficult to find. Call an Alaska reservations agent for assistance with partner airlines not found on the website. They may be able to suggest more options.

Earn miles while flying internationally. You can also earn Mileage Plan miles with Alaska Global Partners, including Aer Lingus, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Fiji Airways, Icelandair, Qantas, Singapore Airlines and more. To earn miles with Mileage Plan, make sure to provide your account number when you book your ticket, or ask the agent to add or change your account number when you check in. Earning rates vary by partner.

Remember to check Alaska Airlines first for flights to Canada, Mexico and Costa Rica. If you’re flying internationally within North and Central America, check your options on alaskaair.com first to take advantage of the fact that when flying on any Alaska or Horizon flight, a mile flown equals a mile earned. You’ll also be able to take advantage of your Mileage Plan elite benefits, such as complimentary upgrades based on availability.

As a bonus: If you have the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® card, remember that it comes with Alaska’s Famous Companion Fare™ offer. The companion fare can be used on any one-way or roundtrip flight operated by Alaska Airlines or Horizon Air, as long as there are still two seats for sale in the Main Cabin or Premium Class. The primary passenger pays the usual price, while the companion pays just $99 plus taxes and fees (from $22 roundtrip) – making it a great value for more-expensive trips such as that vacation to Mexico or Costa Rica. Even better, the companion is still eligible for complimentary elite upgrades and will continue to earn miles for the trip just as they would with any other fare. In my opinion, it is the single most important card benefit and one reason I’ve held onto the card for several years.

Scott Mackenzie founded Travel Codex, a blog devoted to maximizing travel loyalty–program value.

More Mileage Plan tips

4 ways to become an Alaska Airlines MVP

Tips from a Mileage Plan Rockstar

A mile flown is a mile earned

How to maximize your Mileage Plan elite status

The Alaska credit card program is issued and administered by Bank of America, N.A. Visa and Visa Signature are registered trademarks of Visa International Service Association and are used by the issuer pursuant to license from Visa U.S.A. Inc.

Hawaiian Holdings Reports 2019 Second Quarter Financial Results

July 30, 2019
releases
Hawaiian Airlines
22 min read

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Hawaiian Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: HA) (the “Company”), parent company of Hawaiian Airlines, Inc. (“Hawaiian”), today reported its financial results for the second quarter of 2019.

Second Quarter 2019 – Key Financial Metrics
	GAAP	YoY Change	Adjusted	YoY Change
Net Income	$57.8M	($21.6M)	$58.9M	($14.4M)
Diluted EPS	$1.21	($0.35)	$1.23	($0.21)
Pre-tax Margin	11.2%	(3.6) pts.	11.4%	(2.3) pts.

“We’re encouraged by another quarter of strong performance,” said Peter Ingram, Hawaiian Airlines president and CEO. “For the last year and a half, we’ve delivered consistently solid operational and financial results while facing heightened competitive pressures head on. I want to thank the entire Hawaiian ‘ohana for demonstrating day in and day out that no other airline is better suited to serve the needs of guests traveling to, from, and within the Hawaiian Islands than Hawaiian Airlines.”

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

Shareholder Returns, Liquidity and Capital Resources

The Company returned $25.3 million to shareholders in the second quarter through share repurchases of $19.6 million and a dividend payment of $5.7 million.

On July 19, 2019, the Company's Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of 12 cents per share to be paid on August 30, 2019 to all shareholders of record as of August 16, 2019.

As of June 30, 2019, the Company had:

• Unrestricted cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments of $539 million

• Outstanding debt and finance lease obligations of $565 million

Second Quarter 2019 Highlights

Leadership and People

• Welcomed Justin Doane as Vice President of Labor Relations and David LeNoir Jr. as Vice President of Financial Planning and Analysis.

Operational

• Ranked #1 nationally for on-time performance year-to-date through May 2019 as reported in the U.S. Department of Transportation Air Travel Consumer Report, adding to its record of 15 consecutive years as the most punctual U.S. airline.

• Became the first U.S. airline to adopt the Pacelab Flight Profile Optimizer, a cutting-edge application by software provider PACE that enhances real-time aircraft and weather data to help determine the safest, most comfortable, and efficient flight routes while lowering annual fuel consumption and carbon emissions.

• Announced the expansion of its in-house pilot training capabilities with its planned purchase of a Boeing 787-9 flight simulator to prepare for the arrival of its new Dreamliner fleet beginning early 2021.

Customer Experience

• Debuted a newly designed lobby at Maui’s Kahului Airport (OGG), Hawai‘i’s second busiest airport, as part of its ongoing plans to improve the day-of travel experience for its guests. Similar lobby renovations are expected in 2019 at Kona International Airport (KOA), Hilo International Airport (ITO), and Lihue Airport (LIH).

Routes and Network

• Received a preliminary decision from the U.S. Department of Transportation for additional service from Tokyo Haneda Airport (HND) to Honolulu’s Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL). The additional service, expected to begin in early 2020, will expand Hawaiian’s existing service between Tokyo and Hawai'i that consists of flights between Haneda (HND) and Honolulu (HNL) and Kona (KOA), and Tokyo Narita International Airport (NRT) and Honolulu (HNL).

• Continued its international expansion with the announcement of non-stop service between Fukuoka Airport (FUK) and Honolulu (HNL) beginning November 2019.

• Continued its domestic expansion with the launch of non-stop service between Sacramento International Airport (SMF) and Maui (OGG), and non-stop service between Boston's Logan International Airport (BOS) and Honolulu (HNL).

Fleet & Financing

• Took delivery of one Airbus A321neo aircraft in May, increasing the size of its A321neo fleet to thirteen aircraft.

• Retired its Boeing 717-200 Aircraft Facility with scheduled payments of approximately $45 million, increasing its unencumbered fleet to 37 aircraft.

• On July 1, 2019, Fitch Ratings affirmed Hawaiian’s and the Company’s corporate rating of BB- with Stable outlook.

Third Quarter and Full Year 2019 Outlook

The table below summarizes the Company’s expectations for the third quarter ending September 30, 2019, and the full year ending December 31, 2019, expressed as an expected percentage change compared to the results for the quarter ended September 30, 2018, and the full year ended December 31, 2018, as applicable.

For the full year ending December 31, 2019, the Company expects its effective tax rate to be in the range of 26% to 28%.

	Third Quarter		GAAP Third Quarter
Item	2019 Guidance	GAAP Equivalent	2019 Guidance
ASMs	Down 1.5% – Up 0.5%
Operating revenue per ASM	Down 1.5 – 4.5%
Cost per ASM excluding fuel and non-recurring items (a)	Up 3.5 – 6.5%	Cost per ASM (a)	Down 0.5% – Up 1.7%
Gallons of jet fuel consumed	Down 2.5 – 4.5%
Economic fuel cost per gallon (b)(c)	$2.11	Fuel cost per gallon (b)	$2.07

	Full Year		GAAP Full Year
Item	2019 Guidance	GAAP Equivalent	2019 Guidance
ASMs	Up 1.5 – 2.5%
Cost per ASM excluding fuel and non-recurring items (a)	Up 1.0 – 2.5%	Cost per ASM (a)	Down 2.1 – 3.2%
Gallons of jet fuel consumed	Down 1.0 – 2.0%
Economic fuel cost per gallon (b)(c)	$2.07	Fuel cost per gallon (b)	$2.03

(a) See Table 4 for a reconciliation of GAAP operating expenses to operating expenses excluding aircraft fuel and non-recurring items.

(b) Fuel cost per gallon estimates are based on the July 9, 2019 fuel forward curve.

(c) See Table 3 for a reconciliation of GAAP fuel costs to economic fuel costs.

Investor Conference Call

Hawaiian Holdings’ quarterly earnings conference call is scheduled to begin today (July 30, 2019) at 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time (USA). The conference call will be broadcast live over the Internet. Investors may access and 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, a replay of the webcast will be archived for 90 days on the investor relations section of the Company's website.

About Hawaiian Airlines

Hawaiian^® has led all U.S. carriers in on-time performance 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, with 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.

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

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that reflect the Company’s current views with respect to certain current and future events and financial performance. Such forward-looking statements include, without limitation, the Company’s expectations regarding available seat miles, cost per available seat mile, cost per available seat mile excluding fuel and non-recurring items, gallons of jet fuel consumed, fuel cost per gallon, and economic fuel cost per gallon for the quarter ending September 30, 2019 and full year ending December 31, 2019; the Company's expectations regarding operating revenue per available seat mile for the quarter ending September 30, 2019; the Company's expected tax rate for the year ending December 31, 2019; 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; 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 impact of rising industry capacity between North America and Hawai‘i and interisland; 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.

Table 1.

Hawaiian Holdings, Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Operations (unaudited)

	Three Months Ended June 30,								Six Months Ended June 30,
	2019			2018			% Change		2019			2018			% Change
	(in thousands, except per share data)
Operating Revenue:
Passenger	$	653,423		$	655,162		(0.3	)%	$	1,254,727		$	1,266,762		(1.0	)%
Other	58,766			60,285			(2.5	)%	114,213			114,097			0.1	%
Total	712,189			715,447			(0.5	)%	1,368,940			1,380,859			(0.9	)%
Operating Expenses:
Wages and benefits	180,070			171,555			5.0	%	355,135			340,264			4.4	%
Aircraft fuel, including taxes and delivery	140,600			153,026			(8.1	)%	266,704			286,472			(6.9	)%
Maintenance, materials and repairs	58,131			60,970			(4.7	)%	121,176			119,111			1.7	%
Aircraft and passenger servicing	39,641			38,626			2.6	%	78,541			75,144			4.5	%
Depreciation and amortization	39,527			32,919			20.1	%	77,678			65,164			19.2	%
Commissions and other selling	32,471			31,853			1.9	%	63,307			63,778			(0.7	)%
Aircraft rent	30,843			29,865			3.3	%	61,239			61,765			(0.9	)%
Other rentals and landing fees	31,386			31,184			0.6	%	62,432			61,999			0.7	%
Purchased services	32,733			31,474			4.0	%	65,186			62,595			4.1	%
Contract terminations expense	—			—			—	%	—			35,322			(100.0	)%
Other	37,906			41,047			(7.7	)%	75,985			80,052			(5.1	)%
Total	623,308			622,519			0.1	%	1,227,383			1,251,666			(1.9	)%
Operating Income	88,881			92,928			(4.4	)%	141,557			129,193			9.6	%
Nonoperating Income (Expense):
Interest expense and amortization of debt discounts and issuance costs	(7,300		)	(7,627		)			(14,830		)	(16,182		)
Interest income	3,074			1,931					6,057			3,405
Capitalized interest	1,257			2,355					2,542			4,593
Gains (losses) on fuel derivatives	(3,220		)	18,952					(2,650		)	23,569
Other, net	(3,083		)	(2,752		)			(4,108		)	(1,696		)
Total	(9,272		)	12,859					(12,989		)	13,689
Income Before Income Taxes	79,609			105,787					128,568			142,882
Income tax expense	21,776			26,307					34,377			34,860
Net Income	$	57,833		$	79,480				$	94,191		$	108,022
Net Income Per Common Stock Share:
Basic	$	1.21		$	1.57				$	1.96		$	2.12
Diluted	$	1.21		$	1.56				$	1.96		$	2.12
Weighted Average Number of Common Stock Shares Outstanding:
Basic	47,854			50,776					48,122			50,915
Diluted	47,889			50,878					48,158			51,038

Table 2.

Hawaiian Holdings, Inc.

Selected Statistical Data (unaudited)

	Three months ended June 30,								Six months ended June 30,
	2019			2018			% Change		2019			2018			% Change
	(in thousands, except as otherwise indicated)
Scheduled Operations (a) :
Revenue passengers flown	2,957			3,018			(2.0	)%	5,777			5,909			(2.2	)%
Revenue passenger miles (RPM)	4,487,362			4,333,125			3.6	%	8,615,090			8,363,783			3.0	%
Available seat miles (ASM)	5,153,025			5,019,962			2.7	%	10,003,748			9,751,275			2.6	%
Passenger revenue per RPM (Yield)	14.56		¢	15.12		¢	(3.7	)%	14.56		¢	15.15		¢	(3.9	)%
Passenger load factor (RPM/ASM)	87.1		%	86.3		%	0.8	pt.	86.1		%	85.8		%	0.3	pt.
Passenger revenue per ASM (PRASM)	12.68		¢	13.05		¢	(2.8	)%	12.54		¢	12.99		¢	(3.5	)%
Total Operations (a) :
Revenue passengers flown	2,959			3,018			(2.0	)%	5,781			5,910			(2.2	)%
Revenue passenger miles (RPM)	4,491,974			4,333,178			3.7	%	8,620,459			8,363,961			3.1	%
Available seat miles (ASM)	5,157,677			5,020,026			2.7	%	10,009,598			9,751,523			2.6	%
Operating revenue per ASM (RASM)	13.81		¢	14.25		¢	(3.1	)%	13.68		¢	14.16		¢	(3.4	)%
Operating cost per ASM (CASM)	12.09		¢	12.40		¢	(2.5	)%	12.26		¢	12.84		¢	(4.5	)%
CASM excluding aircraft fuel and non-recurring items (b)	9.38		¢	9.35		¢	0.3	%	9.62		¢	9.54		¢	0.8	%
Aircraft fuel expense per ASM (c)	2.73		¢	3.05		¢	(10.5	)%	2.66		¢	2.94		¢	(9.5	)%
Revenue block hours operated	54,840			51,477			6.5	%	106,466			100,223			6.2	%
Gallons of jet fuel consumed	67,277			68,627			(2.0	)%	131,798			133,906			(1.6	)%
Average cost per gallon of jet fuel (actual) (c)	$	2.09		$	2.23		(6.3	)%	$	2.02		$	2.14		(5.6	)%
Economic fuel cost per gallon (c)(d)	$	2.14		$	2.07		3.4	%	$	2.07		$	2.02		2.5	%

(a) Includes the operations of the Company's contract carrier under a capacity purchase agreement.

(b) See Table 4 for a reconciliation of GAAP operating expenses to operating expenses excluding aircraft fuel and non-recurring items.

(c) Includes applicable taxes and fees.

(d) See Table 3 for a reconciliation of GAAP fuel costs to economic fuel costs.

Table 3.

Hawaiian Holdings, Inc.

Economic Fuel Expense (unaudited)

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

	Three months ended June 30,							Six months ended June 30,
	2019		2018			% Change		2019		2018			% Change
	(in thousands, except per-gallon amounts)
Aircraft fuel expense, including taxes and delivery	$	140,600	$	153,026		(8.1	)%	$	266,704	$	286,472		(6.9	)%
Realized losses (gains) on settlement of fuel derivative contracts	3,051		(10,827		)	NM		5,895		(16,488		)	NM
Economic fuel expense	$	143,651	$	142,199		1.0	%	$	272,599	$	269,984		1.0	%
Fuel gallons consumed	67,277		68,627			(2.0	)%	131,798		133,906			(1.6	)%
Economic fuel costs per gallon	$	2.14	$	2.07		3.4	%	$	2.07	$	2.02		2.5	%

	Estimated three months ending September 30, 2019					Estimated full year ending December 31, 2019
	(in thousands, except per-gallon amounts)
Aircraft fuel expense, including taxes and delivery	$	142,552	to	$	145,596	$	544,996	to	$	550,664
Realized losses (gains) on settlement of fuel derivative contracts	2,800		to	2,800		10,400		to	10,400
Economic fuel expense	$	145,352	to	$	148,396	$	555,396	to	$	561,064
Fuel gallons consumed	68,887		to	70,330		268,307		to	271,045
Economic fuel costs per gallon	$	2.11	to	$	2.11	$	2.07	to	$	2.07

Table 4.

Hawaiian Holdings, Inc.

Non-GAAP Financial Reconciliation (unaudited)

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

• Changes in fair value of derivative contracts, net of tax, are based on market prices for open contracts as of the end of the reporting period. This line item includes the unrealized amounts of fuel derivatives (not designated as hedges) that will settle in future periods and the reversal of prior period unrealized amounts.

• Unrealized loss (gain) on foreign debt is based on fluctuations in foreign exchange rates related to foreign-denominated debt agreements the Company executed during the three months ended June 30, 2018.

• During the three and six months ended June 30, 2019, the Company recorded a gain on disposal of Boeing 767-300 aircraft equipment of $0.9 million and $1.9 million, respectively, in conjunction with the retirement of its Boeing 767-300 fleet.

The Company believes that excluding the impact of these derivative adjustments, fluctuations in foreign exchange rates, and the sale of aircraft and aircraft equipment helps investors better analyze the Company's operational performance and compare its results to other airlines in the periods presented.

2018 contract terminations expense

• During the six months ended June 30, 2018, the Company terminated two contracts which resulted in a $35.3 million contract terminations expense. In February 2018, the Company exercised its right to terminate its purchase agreement with Airbus for six Airbus A330-800neo aircraft and the purchase rights for an additional six Airbus A330-800neo aircraft. The Company recorded a contract terminations expense to reflect a portion of the termination penalty. In January 2018, the Company entered into a transaction with its lessor to early terminate and purchase three Boeing 767-300 aircraft leases and concurrently entered into a forward sale agreement for the same three Boeing 767-300 aircraft, including two Pratt & Whitney 4060 engines for each aircraft. These aircraft were previously accounted for as operating leases. In order to exit the leases and purchase the aircraft, the Company agreed to pay a total of $67.1 million (net of all deposits) of which a portion was expensed immediately and recognized as a lease termination fee. The expensed amount represents the total purchase price over fair value of the aircraft purchased as of the date of the transaction.

	Three months ended June 30,												Six months ended June 30,
	2019						2018						2019						2018
	Total			Diluted Per Share			Total			Diluted Per Share			Total			Diluted Per Share			Total			Diluted Per Share
	(in thousands, except per share data)
GAAP Net Income, as reported	$	57,833		$	1.21		$	79,480		$	1.56		$	94,191		$	1.96		$	108,022		$	2.12
Add (deduct): changes in fair value of derivative contracts	169			0.00			(8,125		)	(0.16		)	(3,245		)	(0.07		)	(7,081		)	(0.14		)
Add: unrealized loss (gain) on foreign debt	2,167			0.05			(64		)	(0.00)			1,537			0.03			(64		)	(0.00)
Add: loss (gain) on sale of aircraft and equipment	(851		)	(0.02		)	—			—			(1,948		)	(0.04		)	—			—
Add: contract terminations expense	—			—			—			—			—			—			35,322			0.69
Deduct: tax effect of adjustments	(386		)	(0.01		)	2,047			0.04			951			0.02			(7,045		)	(0.14		)
Adjusted Net Income	$	58,932		$	1.23		$	73,338		$	1.44		$	91,486		$	1.90		$	129,154		$	2.53

	Three months ended June 30,						Six months ended June 30,
	2019			2018			2019			2018
	(in thousands)
Income Before Income Taxes, as reported	$	79,609		$	105,787		$	128,568		$	142,882
Add (deduct): changes in fair value of derivative contracts	169			(8,125		)	(3,245		)	(7,081		)
Add: unrealized loss (gain) on foreign debt	2,167			(64		)	1,537			(64		)
Add: loss (gain) on sale of aircraft and equipment	(851		)	—			(1,948		)	—
Add: contract terminations expense	—			—			—			35,322
Adjusted Income Before Income Taxes	$	81,094		$	97,598		$	124,912		$	171,059

Operating Costs per Available Seat Mile (CASM)

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

	Three months ended June 30,						Six months ended June 30,
	2019			2018			2019			2018
	(in thousands, except CASM data)
GAAP Operating Expenses	$	623,308		$	622,519		$	1,227,383		$	1,251,666
Less: aircraft fuel, including taxes and delivery	(140,600		)	(153,026		)	(266,704		)	(286,472		)
Less: (loss) gain on sale of aircraft and equipment	851			—			1,948			—
Less: contract terminations expense	—			—			—			(35,322		)
Adjusted Operating Expenses	$	483,559		$	469,493		$	962,627		$	929,872
Available Seat Miles	5,157,677			5,020,026			10,009,598			9,751,523
CASM – GAAP	12.09		¢	12.40		¢	12.26		¢	12.84		¢
Less: aircraft fuel	(2.73		)	(3.05		)	(2.66		)	(2.94		)
Less: (loss) gain on sale of aircraft and equipment	0.02			—			0.02			—
Less: contract terminations expense	—			—			—			(0.36		)
Adjusted CASM	9.38		¢	9.35		¢	9.62		¢	9.54		¢

	Estimated three months ending September 30, 2019							Estimated full year ending December 31, 2019
	(in thousands, except CASM data)
GAAP Operating Expenses	$	630,427		to	$	657,806		$	2,478,624		to	$	2,532,391
Less: aircraft fuel, including taxes and delivery	(142,552		)	to	(145,596		)	(544,996		)	to	(550,664		)
Less: (loss) gain on sale of aircraft and equipment	—			to	—			1,948			to	1,948
Adjusted Operating Expenses	$	487,875		to	$	512,210		$	1,935,576		to	$	1,983,675
Available Seat Miles	5,272,681			to	5,379,741			20,474,490			to	20,676,209
CASM – GAAP	11.96		¢	to	12.23		¢	12.11		¢	to	12.25		¢
Less: aircraft fuel	(2.70		)	to	(2.71		)	(2.66		)	to	(2.66		)
Less: (loss) gain on sale of aircraft and equipment	—			to	—			0.01			to	0.01
Adjusted CASM	9.25		¢	to	9.52		¢	9.45		¢	to	9.59		¢

Pre-tax margin

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

	Three months ended June 30,				Six months ended June 30,
	2019		2018		2019		2018
Pre-Tax Margin, as reported	11.2	%	14.8	%	9.4	%	10.3	%
Add: changes in fair value of derivative contracts	0.0		(1.1	)	(0.2	)	(0.5	)
Add: unrealized loss (gain) on foreign debt	0.3		0.0		0.1		0.0
Add: loss (gain) on sale of aircraft and equipment	(0.1	)	—		(0.1	)	—
Add: contract terminations expense	—		—		—		2.6
Adjusted Pre-Tax Margin	11.4	%	13.7	%	9.2	%	12.4	%

Leverage ratio

The Company uses adjusted total debt, including aircraft rent, in addition to long-term adjusted debt and finance leases, to represent long-term financial obligations. The Company excludes unrealized (gains) losses from fuel derivative contracts, losses on extinguishment of debt, and non-recurring items from earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization and rent (EBITDAR) for the reasons described above. Management believes this metric is helpful to investors in assessing the Company’s overall debt.

	Twelve months ended
	June 30, 2019
	(in thousands, except Leverage Ratio)
Debt and finance lease obligations	$	565,283
Plus: Aircraft leases capitalized at 7x last twelve months' aircraft rent	878,045
Adjusted debt and finance lease obligations	$	1,443,328

EBITDAR:
Income Before Income Taxes	$	286,844
Add back:
Interest and amortization of debt discounts and issuance costs	31,649
Depreciation and amortization	152,380
Aircraft rent	125,435
EBITDAR	$	596,308

Adjustments:
Add: changes in fair value of derivative contracts	$	23,809
Add: unrealized loss (gain) on foreign debt	1,981
Add: loss (gain) on sale of aircraft and equipment	(1,639		)
Adjusted EBITDAR	$	620,459

Leverage Ratio	2.3		x

Hawaiian Airlines, ‘Ohana by Hawaiian Launching New Pilot Recruitment Program

July 29, 2019
releases
Hawaiian Airlines
4 min read

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HONOLULU – Pilots seeking to join Hawaiian Airlines will soon be able to pursue a new recruitment pathway available through the carrier’s ‘Ohana by Hawaiian operation.

Starting this fall, pilots interviewing for a position at ‘Ohana by Hawaiian will have the opportunity to also apply to Hawaiian’s Flow-Through hiring program. Candidates accepted to the program will be able to transition to Hawaiian after flying with ‘Ohana as Empire Airlines pilots in good standing for two years and achieving certain required qualifications. Pilots currently working at ‘Ohana will also be eligible for the Flow-Through program, which will invite applications periodically throughout the year.

“Our Flow-Through program provides ‘Ohana by Hawaiian pilots more opportunities to transition to Hawaiian Airlines while incentivizing pilots to remain in Hawai‘i as they build their flight qualifications,” said Ken Rewick, vice president of flight operations at Hawaiian Airlines. “We look forward to welcoming more of our ‘Ohana pilot colleagues to our team as we continue to grow our fleet and network.”

“This partnership creates an attractive career pathway that makes both ‘Ohana and Hawaiian more desirable options for pilots in Hawai‘i and throughout the United States,” said Pete Broschet, director of human resources at Empire Airlines.

Hawaiian has 860 pilots among its 7,300-plus employee workforce, with approximately seven percent of pilots hired each year arriving from ‘Ohana by Hawaiian. As Hawaiian continues to grow with delivery of additional Airbus A321neo aircraft and a new Boeing 787-9 fleet, it expects the Flow-Through program will allow the airline to significantly increase the percentage of ‘Ohana pilots it hires annually.

‘Ohana by Hawaiian, operated by Empire Airlines, started service between Honolulu’s Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) and Moloka‘i Airport and Lāna‘i Airport in spring 2014 with ATR-42 turboprop aircraft. In 2016, it added non-stop daily flights between HNL and Kapalua Airport in West Maui. The service complements Hawaiian’s robust Neighbor Island network offering more than 170 jet flights daily connecting Kaua‘i, O‘ahu, Maui and the Island of Hawai‘i.

Last year, ‘Ohana launched all-cargo service between HNL, Līhu‘e Airport and Hilo International Airport with ATR-72 aircraft. Cargo flights between HNL and Kahului Airport and Kona International Airport are planned to commence later this year.

Pilots interested in the Flow-Through program can obtain more information by emailing HALPilot@HawaiianAir.com.

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.

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

Flyback Friday: Our Favorite Old-Time Photos of Hawaiian’s Promo Team

July 26, 2019
blog
Hawaiian Airlines
1 min read

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It was the summer of 1958 and Waikīkī was bustling with Hawaiian Airlines flight attendants and travel experts from around the country. Hawaiian, which sponsored the American Society of Travel Agents conference, deployed a select cluster of lively employees to welcome hundreds of attendees amid the rise of tourism in the Islands.

These Hawaiian Airlines ambassadors, known as our Promo Team, were a group of camera-ready stewardesses and sales agents who represented our airline when they weren’t welcoming guests onboard our Convairs and DC-3s or working at our Honolulu-based headquarters. They made their appearance in dazzling white dresses accented with red carnation lei and straw hats wrapped with a bright red Hawaiian Airlines ribbon.

Throughout the conference, the team promoted travel to the Neighbor Islands and hosted complimentary showings of our company produced travel films.

The ambassadors would also join the fun at the conference’s big finale at Kapi‘olani Park, which featured hula dancing, a luau, surfing lessons, canoe rides, carnival rides, and a tethered hot-air balloon lifted into the air for sightseeing.

Our Promo Team members gathered in the basket of a tethered hot-air balloon.

Tokyo: The capital of fun food

July 24, 2019
Loyalty
Denise Clifton
7 min read

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When most people think about food in Japan, sushi and tempura come to mind. But in Tokyo, the crazier and more adventurous, the better. Consider one of the latest obsessions: chicken sashimi. You heard that right. And raw chicken is only the start of what you can eat in this trailblazing city known for defining global trends when it comes to everything from fashion to food.

“Would you try a live shrimp?” my guide Asami asked me with a wink. “It’ll still be alive — and wiggling — when you eat it.” And with that, I knew I was embarking on one of the wildest culinary explorations that I’ve ever had.

Japan has more than 5 million vending machines, and you can buy everything from corn soup to eggs to beer – and even non-food items including ties and T-shirts.

Asami is a guide with Arigato Japan Food Tours, a company that introduces travelers to this complicated country through their taste buds. Whatever you’re hungry for — ramen, sushi, sake — Arigato will indulge you. My family and I signed up for two tours in Tokyo — a city easily reached via Alaska Airlines’ Global Partner airlines. The Arigato tours would introduce us to some of the city’s more offbeat dining trends.

Early one Saturday morning, we rolled up to a hip local coffee shop near the legendary Tsukiji Market. “Why aren’t you going to Starbucks?” the doorman at our hotel inquired when we asked for directions. He didn’t know the start of it. As we sipped on perfectly prepared lattes, Asami gave us the basics on Japanese cuisine and customs, from chopstick etiquette to helpful phrases. She also explained what we going to encounter on the “Classic Tsukiji Insider’s Tour of Local Market Town with Breakfast.” Tsukiji stopped operating its famous fish auctions in late 2018, but this area hasn’t stopped serving hungry travelers and locals.

An open-air stand serving beef intestine stew in Tokyo.

Asami’s number one tip: Be daring. We passed an open-air stand with a huge crowd outside. The draw? Beef intestine stew. No thanks. After a perfectly safe first course of grilled salmon and mackerel — popular Japanese breakfast dishes — our next stop was a stand selling Japanese sea snail. Served in an oversized horned shell, it was bitter and sinewy. Jack from Chicago suggested we grab some Japanese beers to wash the taste out of our mouths. It was only 11 a.m., but when you’re eating sea snails in Tokyo, anything goes.

Counters selling salted squid guts and other seafood delights in the Tsukiji Market district.

We eyed counters selling hairy crab, giant sea cucumbers, squid guts and baby sardines coated in a sweet sesame sauce. Asami snapped up whatever caught our eye. Fried eel bones? Check! Rare white strawberries that cost $6.50 apiece? Worth every penny. I said I would try fugu, the deadly Japanese puffer fish that chefs need a license to prepare. Unfortunately, the fugu stand was sold out. I was secretly relieved. There was also a stand selling wagyu beef on a stick, topped with uni (sea urchin) and ikura (marinated salmon roe).

After wandering around the market, we headed to an enclosed area for a little picnic with all the treats that Asami had gathered along the way. The star of the show was botan ebi, shrimp that is served and eaten live. Chase, a courageous 11-year-old, was the first to try it. When my husband, Jonathan, went to take his piece, the shrimp flew off the table and started jumping around on the floor, giving new meaning to the phrase “fresh from the sea.” Here’s the good news: It was delicious.

KitKats in Japan come in a rainbow of flavors and packaging colors.

Another morning, we headed to the cutting-edge Harajuku district for the “Crazy, Cute, Kawaii Food Tour” with our guides Asami and Asha. Kawaii means cute in Japanese and this is an area where the food is about as cute — and kooky — as you can get. We started off on a relatively safe note in a local gourmet grocery store, where we sampled the rice dessert mochi in a limited-edition cherry-blossom flavor. Asami and Asha also told us about Japan’s KitKat obsession and all the unique flavors you can find here: green tea, banana, sweet potato, apple and the list goes on.

Our next food stop was for ice cream made from sesame seeds. As odd as it was to eat jet-black ice cream, it was savory, yet sweet, and utterly creamy. For lunch, we sat around a table with a grill in it and cooked our own version of an Osaka specialty called okonomiyaki, which means “grilled as you like it.” It’s like a savory pancake, topped with eggs and mayonnaise. We also learned about Japan’s quirky vending machine culture. There are more than 5 million of them in Japan, and you can buy everything from corn soup to eggs to beer – and even non-food items including ties, umbrellas and T-shirts.

We cooked our own version of okonomiyaki, which means “grilled as you like it.” It’s like a savory pancake, topped with eggs and mayonnaise.

Crepes in Tokyo can be piled high with ingredients.

As we made our way to Takeshita Street, a narrow passageway at the heart of Harajuku, the crazy quotient started to rise. We passed by a shop with a line of people waiting for a novelty called roll ice cream, which has to be seen to be understood. We sampled ice cream shaped like adorable animals, from bunnies to pigs. We ordered the craziest crepes you’ve ever encountered, piled high with ingredients. The French would surely be horrified, but in Japan, the more elaborate the creation, the better.

Crawling down Takeshita street — which was crowded with pink-haired teenagers and throngs of thrill-seeking travelers — we checked out shops selling oddities like frozen popcorn, baby bottles filled with jelly-infused soda, and every kind of rainbow treat you can imagine. There was toast filled with rainbow-colored cheese, rainbow-colored cotton candy, rainbow cheese dogs, you name it.

After a hilarious session at a purikura, a photo booth machine where you can decorate pictures of yourself, we were inspired to strike out on our own. Our destination: the nearby Kawaii Monster Café, which has been described as Alice in Wonderland meets Willy Wonka on acid. This over-the-top spot was designed by a local artist and the food is as eclectic as the colorful décor, with rainbow pasta, chocolate chicken, mad scientist cocktails and all kinds of zany desserts. As my 6-year-old daughter danced around with an oversized monster and a couple of Harajuku girls with wild makeup and pink wigs, I knew that it would take a lot to ever top dining out in Tokyo.

Rainbow cotton candy on Takeshita street.

Flying to Tokyo on Alaska Global Partners

With Alaska Global Partner airlines, there are several ways to get to Tokyo while earning and spending your Alaska Airlines miles. For example, Japan Airlines (JAL) flies nonstop from San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego and New York (JFK) to Tokyo, and from Los Angeles to Osaka. This year, JAL also added a direct flight from Seattle to Tokyo-Narita.

Hawaiian Airlines Welcomes Justin Doane as Vice President of Labor Relations

July 22, 2019
releases
Hawaiian Airlines
1 min read

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HONOLULU – Hawaiian Airlines today announced the appointment of Justin Doane as vice president of labor relations. Doane will lead labor relations and oversee union agreements for Hawaiian’s employees represented by the Air Line Pilots Association International (ALPA), the Association of Flight Attendants (AFA), the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) and the Transport Workers Union of America (TWU).

“Justin’s experience and collaborative approach managing union relationships and complex negotiations will allow us to continue to develop effective solutions for our employee ‘ohana,” said Peter Ingram, president and CEO of Hawaiian Airlines.

Doane brings over 15 years of leadership in labor relations to Hawaiian Airlines. Previously, he had responsibility for union negotiations and relations for United Airlines and the Chicago Transit Authority, where he provided strategic advice concerning the administration and application of collective bargaining agreements.

Doane earned a Master of Laws (LL.M.) from Loyola University Chicago School of Law. He also holds a Juris Doctor from Wayne State University and a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies from Michigan State University.

A wish fulfilled: Captain Tristan reports for pilot duty at Alaska Airlines

July 18, 2019
Community
Denise Clifton
7 min read

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Photography by Ingrid Barrentine

With profound sadness we update readers that Tristan passed away in 2022. We are honored to have granted Tristan his wish to become a pilot for a day and look back on these memories with great fondness. Our deepest sympathy goes out to his family and loved ones. You can help support Make-A-Wish Alaska and Washington using Alaska Airlines miles. These miles are used to send wish children and their families, like Tristan, to the destinations of their dreams. Donate miles now at alaskaairlines.com/donatemiles.

For years, 11-year-old Tristan has piloted his imaginary “Infinity Airlines” flights wherever he is: in his bedroom, backyard, or spending a long night within the four white walls of his hospital room undergoing treatment for a rare heart condition.

“I don’t wish it on anyone,” said his mom, Ebru, of the moment Tristan’s doctors diagnosed him with a critical illness four years ago. “It’s so rare no one really knows what to do; there is no cure. There are only therapies we can do which we do daily.”

Each moment Tristan spends in his imaginary airplane soaring high above the clouds or studying his flight simulator app is an escape from the realities of therapies, exhaustion and many unknowns that come with pulmonary hypertension.

Captain Scott Day helped Tristan get ready to fly with his own official uniform.

That’s why when Tristan found out he would receive a wish from Make-A-Wish®, he immediately knew he wanted to be a pilot. But not just any pilot: Tristan wanted to fly for Alaska Airlines.

Alaska Airlines has been a proud Make-A-Wish partner for more than three decades. Back in 1986 Alaska Airlines flew the very first local wish child to Disneyland. The partnership has expanded over the years—helping thousands of wish children and their families reach the destinations of their dreams. Alaska Mileage Plan members also contribute by donating their unused miles to Make-A-Wish.

These wishes fill a vital need for children facing critical illnesses. Research shows that wishes have the potential to give kids the hope and strength they need to fight harder. For children battling a critical illness, a wish can give them and their families the chance to believe anything is possible.

That’s exactly what Tristan and his family found when they arrived at Alaska Airlines Flight Operations for Tristan’s wish in July. Inside, Tristan received his official pilot identification card, a welcome letter and official uniform – custom made by Unisync, which also manufactures the uniforms for Alaska Airlines. Then, it was off to work for Alaska Airlines’ newest pilot.

Captain Tristan impressed Captain Scott Day and Alaska CEO Brad Tilden with his extensive knowledge of aircraft.

Being a pilot is more than flight simulators and uniforms. Tristan also learned about systems, engines and schematics.

Josiah Reimers, an Alaska Airlines supervisor of inflight training, discussed exit-row protocol on an Airbus aircraft with Captain Tristan during the inflight portion of his training.

“It’s fun, you get to fly all over the world, you get to hear the engine sounds, you get to see all kinds of scenery,” Tristan said as he listed off the reasons he wanted to become a pilot. “You get to meet lots of different people, I get to meet the pilots and ask them questions.”

He went through onboarding and paired up with Captain Scott Day, chief pilot, and Captain Jeff Severns, director of training. As the trio reviewed manuals, the young aviation buff listed the airplane models in Alaska Airlines’ fleet. He even visited flight dispatch, where he spoke to pilots in the air.

And Tristan filled the day with questions. “He’s brilliant. His body is frail but he’s a mental giant,” said Tristan’s dad, Michael. “Because he can’t go out and play—which is hard for him to see other kids play when he can’t—he’s become cerebral. He reads at an 11th grade level and he’s about to start fifth grade.”

Anne Shaw, Alaska’s director of inflight safety, made sure Captain Tristan’s training covered a full range of inflight protocols.

Tristan astounded the crew with his knowledge of aircraft—including at lunch with CEO Brad Tilden where the two chatted pilot-to-pilot about which airplane engine “sounds the coolest.”

Tristan and his new crew even spent time in the flight simulator where they did takeoffs and landings; practiced flying in rain, snow and sunshine; and got a feel of what it’s like to pilot a commercial aircraft.

Captain Tristan felt right at home in the pilot’s seat.

“It was super fun; there were lots of cool noises and it was super-realistic,” said Tristan.

“He was a natural,” said Michael. “Maybe this will be the impetus to become a commercial airline pilot. I couldn’t be prouder of him. He is the bravest of any person I’ve ever known.”

While Tristan’s flights were simulated, about 80 percent of wishes granted each year to children in Alaska and Washington state involve airline travel; it’s one of the largest wish-granting expenses. Using airline miles donated from individuals is the number one way we are able to stretch our donated dollars.

You can help by donating unused airline Alaska Airlines miles to Make-A-Wish Alaska and Washington. These miles are used to send wish children and their families, like Tristan, to the destinations of their dreams. Donate miles now at alaskaairlines.com/donatemiles.

“We’re all about taking care of people and that’s why today is so great; we’re taking care of someone today too,” said Cydna Knebel, executive assistant at Alaska Airlines.

Captains Jeff Severns and Scott Day welcomed Captain Tristan into Alaska Airlines’ pilot ranks.

That’s what wishes are about: bringing our community together to help a child realize the limitless possibilities of their imagination.

Tristan’s wish day will have a lasting impact on everyone involved.

“I’m extremely proud of our company, how involved we are in the community and with Make-A-Wish,” Day said.

“You made my day today,” said Tristan. “I feel really refreshed, amazing and good about myself. Thanks to everybody over here, they helped make my dream come true!”

Thanks to Alaska Airlines and our community for making wishes like Tristan’s possible. When you grant a wish, you help wish children replace fear with confidence, sadness with joy, and anxiety with hope. Connect with Make-A-Wish Alaska and Washington on social and get started today @MakeAWishAKWA.

Tristan summed up his day perfectly: “I had bundles of fun!”

Make-A-Wish recipient Tristan had an unforgettable day as an Alaska Airlines pilot.

We Make Flying Matter: Alaska Airlines’ Charity Miles program

Make-A-Wish is one of nine organizations supported each year by Alaska’s Mileage Plan members through the airline’s Charity Miles donation program. Members raised more than 17 million miles in 2018, and are well on their way to reaching that goal again in 2019. Learn more.

Hawaiian Holdings Announces 2019 Second Quarter Conference Call

July 11, 2019
releases
Hawaiian Airlines
2 min read

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HONOLULU, July 11, 2019 /PRNewswire/ — Hawaiian Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: HA), parent company of Hawaiian Airlines, Inc. ("Hawaiian"), plans to report its second quarter 2019 financial results after the market closes on Tuesday, July 30, 2019. An investor conference call is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time.

(PRNewsfoto/Hawaiian Holdings, Inc.)

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

About Hawaiian Airlines

Hawaiian® has led all U.S. carriers in on-time performance for each of the past 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, with a total of more than 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.

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

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hawaiian-holdings-announces-2019-second-quarter-conference-call-300883267.html

SOURCE Hawaiian Holdings, Inc.

Sea-Tac’s newest Alaska Lounge offers a Northwest-inspired oasis

July 11, 2019
Guest Experience
Denise Clifton
4 min read

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Photography by Ingrid Barrentine

At the new flagship Alaska Airlines Lounge, it’s all about the views. And, if you’re a craft beer fan, the brews.

Among the dozen beers on tap are several from Seattle’s Fremont Brewing, including Lush IPA, which is also available inflight on Alaska flights.

From the 15,800-square-foot lounge in the newly upgraded North Satellite Terminal at Sea-Tac International Airport, Alaska guests can take in expansive views of the Olympic Mountains – as well as downtown Seattle – while unwinding by the fireplace with one of the 12 microbrews on tap. Featured beers include Lounge Life IPA by Seattle’s Fremont Brewing, which was crafted exclusively for Alaska Lounges.

Designed in partnership with Seattle’s Graham Baba Architects, the new lounge offers a relaxing atmosphere. It’s Alaska’s third lounge at Sea-Tac, seventh overall – and the largest by far. The opening on Friday, July 12, reflects Alaska’s continuing investment in guest experiences, following the recent renovation of Alaska Lounges in Los Angeles, Portland and Anchorage, the opening of Alaska’s JFK Lounge and plans for a new lounge at San Francisco International Airport, coming in 2020.

The new Sea-Tac lounge also marks the completion of phase one of the North Satellite Modernization Project, a partnership between the Port of Seattle and Alaska Airlines. The 255,000-square-foot expansion adds more gate seating with charging stations and showcases regional restaurants including Bambuza Vietnam Kitchen, Skillet and Caffe D’Arte.

The lounge offers plenty of room to recharge – both for guests and their electronic devices.

The lounge features cookies from Seattle’s Marsee Baking, along with other Pacific Northwest-inspired bites.

“At Alaska, we truly strive to meet the needs of the modern traveler – and the touches throughout this newest lounge reflect that care and investment,” says Sangita Woerner, Alaska’s vice president of marketing. “This welcoming space is an extension of the remarkable service we provide every day for our guests.”

How to enjoy Alaska Lounges

Alaska guests can visit by becoming a lounge member, flying first class with Alaska or purchasing a day pass. Flyers can enjoy 50 percent off a day pass when they pay with their Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card.