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
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
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.
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.”
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.
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
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.
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.
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:
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 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 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
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.
“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
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.
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.
Hawaiian Airlines, Inc. is a subsidiary of Hawaiian Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: HA). Additional information is available at HawaiianAirlines.com. Follow Hawaiian’s Twitter updates (@HawaiianAir), become a fan on Facebook (Hawaiian Airlines), and follow us on Instagram (hawaiianairlines). For career postings and updates, follow Hawaiian’s LinkedIn page.
For media inquiries, please visit Hawaiian Airlines’ online newsroom.
Hawaiian Airlines Awarded New Haneda-Honolulu Route
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.
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.
Capturing the journey: A photographer’s guide to making great photos from your airplane seat
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
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.
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.
