Hawaiian Airlines, PACE Partner to Boost Flight Efficiency

June 6, 2019
releases
Hawaiian Airlines
5 min read

HONOLULU – Hawaiian Airlines, the most punctual U.S. airline for 15 straight years, is equipping pilots with new tablet technology that enhances real-time aircraft and weather data delivered to the cockpit to advance the carrier’s industry-leading operational record.

Hawaiian last month became the first U.S. airline to adopt the Pacelab Flight Profile Optimizer (FPO), a cutting-edge application by Berlin-based software provider PACE that uses satellite communication to continuously inform flight crews about winds, projected turbulence and aircraft performance. Hawaiian’s Airbus A330 aircraft pilots can access updated information on their tablets throughout the flight to make any needed adjustments to chart the quickest, most comfortable and fuel-efficient trajectory from take-off to landing.

Hawaiian Airlines Captain Brian Beres, left, holds a tablet featuring the Pacelab Flight Profile Optimizer dashboard while preparing for a departure in the cockpit of an Airbus A330 aircraft.

Last year, Hawaiian lowered jet fuel burn by seven million gallons, enough to power 14,300 vehicles for one year, amid a fleet modernization and expanded efficiency initiatives. The airline estimates Pacelab FPO will reduce annual fuel consumption by an additional one percent – approximately 1.3 million gallons – and prevent more than 12,000 pounds of carbon emissions from entering the atmosphere.

Pilots who operate Hawaiian’s 24-aircraft wide-body A330 fleet are utilizing Pacelab FPO on the airline’s network of non-stop flights connecting Hawai‘i to Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Tahiti, American Samoa, and the U.S. mainland. Hawaiian intends to make the software available aboard its mid-haul Airbus A321neo narrow-body fleet that will grow from 13 to 18 aircraft by early next year as the carrier increases service between U.S. West Coast cities and the Hawaiian Islands.

A data visualization example of a Pacelab Flight Profile Optimizer.

“Pacelab FPO has been instrumental in helping determine the safest, most comfortable and efficient route on every flight,” said Capt. Brian Beres, senior director for flight standards and qualifications at Hawaiian Airlines. “Having previously removed heavy paper manuals and charts, Hawaiian is further increasing the utility of our Electronic Flight Bag tablets by providing real time decision support tools to allow pilots to optimize all phases of the flight. This means guests arrive on our islands well rested and on time to begin their vacation, while we further reduce our environmental footprint.”

“We’re delighted to welcome Hawaiian to the Pacelab community,” said Oliver Spaeth, director of sales at PACE. “We collaborated very closely on demonstrating the savings potential during the onboard software trial, which went really smoothly despite the 12-hour time difference between Hawaiian’s headquarters, pilots and our operational efficiency experts in Germany.”

Pacelab FPO continuously performs a holistic optimization for the remaining route to the destination and provides flight crews with actionable data to maximize operational efficiency, flight punctuality and passenger comfort given current flight conditions. The optimization uses real-time avionics data and meteorological information, while respecting scheduled in-block times and a wide range of other airline-specific constraints.

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.

About PACE – a TXT company

Founded in Berlin in 1995, PACE has built a reputation for developing trail-blazing software products for the global aerospace and aviation industry. As part of TXT e-solutions, the company focuses on high-quality niches such as preliminary design & evaluation, on-board software, digital manufacturing, product configuration, flight operations and training & simulation.

TXT e-solutions is an international, specialized provider of advanced software solutions supporting customers in high-tech markets, most notably in the aerospace, aviation and automotive industries, in their mission- and business-critical core processes and throughout their product lifecycles.

Headquartered in Milan, TXT is listed on the Italian Stock Exchange and has subsidiaries in Italy, Germany, France, Switzerland, the UK and the US.

For more information, please visit www.pace.de.

Explore “The Untold Tales of Armistead Maupin” and San Francisco with the author and director

June 6, 2019
Community
Denise Clifton
8 min read

Mary Ann Singleton’s journey through 1970s San Francisco was deliciously specific — starting with her three Irish coffees at the storied Buena Vista Café and her introduction to the produce-aisle pick-up scene at the Marina Safeway. For more than 40 years, author Armistead Maupin has invited readers of his “Tales of the City” newspaper serial and subsequent novels to walk with Mary Ann and the other residents of 28 Barbary Lane as they explored the beauty and eccentricities of San Francisco — and discovered themselves and a diverse community along the way.

“When I was writing, I simply tried to stay in the moment, knowing that it would be an interesting history of the city if I was faithful to that,” Maupin told the Alaska Airlines Blog in a recent phone interview.

This summer, the journey continues in the new “Armistead Maupin’s Tales of the City” series starting June 7 on Netflix. And Alaska Airlines guests have an additional opportunity to explore the author’s personal story through “The Untold Tales of Armistead Maupin,” a documentary by director Jennifer M. Kroot available for free inflight viewing through June and July.

As part of Alaska’s sponsorship of Pride 2019 celebrations, the inflight entertainment features 18 films from the LGBTQ+ media-arts nonprofit Frameline – including Kroot’s 2014 documentary on the “Star Trek” legend-turned-political activist George Takei, “To Be Takei.” Alaska also is sponsoring Frameline43, The San Francisco International LGBTQ+ Film Festival running June 20-30.

The author and the filmmaker spoke with us at the end of May about the new series, the “Untold Tales” documentary — and shared some of the places they love in San Francisco.

Maupin writing in the San Francisco Chronicle newsroom in the 1970s. (Courtesy of “The Untold Tales of Armistead Maupin.”)

These stories now span nine books and more than four decades. How do they resonate with readers today?

Armistead Maupin: They’re about young people who are looking for a home in a city, and looking for love. There was something called “Mona’s Law”: You can have a hot job, a hot apartment and a hot lover — but you can’t have all three at the same time. This was about the frustrations and joys of being young in a new place, and that is universal.

Jennifer Kroot: There are some new San Franciscans who confide to me that they moved here recently because someone lent them one of the early “Tales of the City” books and it meant something to them. Sometimes they’re gay people, sometimes they’re not. But they love the spirit of the book and they wanted to find that feeling.

Laura Linney and Olympia Dukakis in the new series coming to Netflix June 7. (Courtesy of Netflix)

The Netflix series brings back Laura Linney and Olympia Dukakis in roles they originated in the first miniseries that aired in 1994 on PBS — and Ellen Page joins the cast as Mary Ann’s grown daughter. What are some themes explored in the new series?

AM: This show particularly encourages the notion of intergenerational communication. There are young gay men who are talking to older gay men who remember the horrors of the AIDS epidemic, and there’s an older trans character talking to a young trans man about her experience and advising him on his. All of it’s about talking to each other. We need to do that more than ever.

My youngsters from the earlier miniseries are now the elders. The story is not just concerned with the young; it’s also concerned with their relationship with older people. And they’re all looking for love in one way or another. There are lots of surprises. I love that they reveal themselves at their own speed.

Charlie Barnett and Murray Bartlett in the new series. (Courtesy of Netflix)

What are some of the important places in San Francisco for you and for the characters?

AM: I was always in love with Russian Hill. That’s why Barbary Lane was set there and it made sense to go back there in Jennifer’s documentary. We had the most serendipitous thing happen: A flock of wild parrots landed in the lane as we were there with the cameras. We didn’t stage that scene in the doc. They were just there. And that’s one of the wonders of San Francisco — that this kind of beauty can happen at any time.

“Tales of the City” was sort of a scrapbook of places I loved. Caffe Sport, which is still there, is a wonderful old kitschy, artifact-laden Italian tavern in North Beach and an experience I still enjoy. I had Mona and Mrs. Madrigal have dinner there one night before they went to see “Beach Blanket Babylon,” which is on the verge of closing.

Ellen Page and Zosia Mamet in the new series. (Courtesy of Netflix)

JK: Russian Hill is an area where, in the ‘70s, there were society people but regular people could live there, too. We don’t really have that much anymore. San Francisco is really expensive everywhere now.

The stories show the characters’ discovery of their “logical family” — the circle of people who celebrate them for who they are. (“Logical Family” is also the title of Maupin’s recent memoir.) What advice do you have for people searching for their own logical family?

AM: That is really the theme of all of my work. I found great relief in discovering that I could form my own family and not have to deal with the strictures of the biological family. I came from a very conservative, rigid, ancestor-worshipping family from the South that only cared about the Civil War. And when I found that I could replace that with art and theater and interesting people, it was a delight. I tell people that if you need to change your life, do. It’s crazy to suffer at the hands of people who don’t accept you for who you are. That’s not just applicable to queer folks. It’s anybody who’s in an oppressive situation. If you realize that you’re the architect of your own life, you can make so much joy for yourself and for others by being true to who you are.

The actor George Takei in the documentary “To Be Takei.” (Courtesy of “To Be Takei”)

Jennifer, you have two documentaries showing on Alaska Airlines: “The Untold Tales of Armistead Maupin” and “To Be Takei.” What drew you to these stories?

JK: And I have a third documentary prior to those, “It Came From Kuchar,” about the Kuchar brothers, gay twins who were underground filmmakers. We call it the “Gay Geezer Trilogy” — and I have to give Armistead credit for coining that.

For these two, it was really fun to connect the dots. In George Takei’s case: How do you go from being imprisoned by the United States government at age 5 because you’re Japanese American and we’re at war with the Japanese, and then becoming a science fiction hero, and then coming out around age 68? With Armistead, how could you grow up with a tyrannical right-wing father and desperately want to please him — but inside you know that isn’t who you are. The bravery that takes is really hard. How do you become this open voice that has reached so many people about not only his homosexuality, but also his progressive spirit? I find it very inspiring.

Maupin and his husband, Christopher Turner, walk through the Castro neighborhood in San Francisco. (Courtesy of “The Untold Tales of Armistead Maupin”)

Are there more stories about the “Tales of the City” characters coming in the future?

AM: I just signed a contract for a new “Tales”-themed novel. It’s not a continuation, but a deep dive into the middle of the story. I’m going to write about Mona Ramsey at the manor house she moved into at the end of “Babycakes.” A lot of people have complained that I left her there and never explained what that was like, and so I’ll be writing a book called “Mona of the Manor.”

Armistead, you and your husband recently moved to London. Was it hard to leave San Francisco?

AM: This is another city I’m enchanted with, and my husband is as well. Frankly, I wanted a new adventure late in life. If you’re lucky enough to be with somebody who wants to take on something new, it becomes a grand adventure.

At Alaska, our pride flies nonstop:

As longtime supporters of the LGBTQ+ community, we at Alaska remain committed to a building a more equitable society. We’re showing our #MostWestCoast love by continuing our partnerships with seven West Coast Pride events in 2019, and by offering a 10% discount on flights for a limited time to select California destinations. Look for Alaska employees marching in seven Pride parades this year. Learn more.

Our newest destination from Paine Field? Think poolside in the desert

June 5, 2019
Stories
Denise Clifton
3 min read

Not long after we started flying from Paine Field in early March, the requests from our guests began pouring in: Please add Palm Springs. The pull of desert sun and warmth is strong. (We understand.)

So your West Coast airline is making it happen. Starting Nov. 5, you’ll be able to fly nonstop with us between Everett and Palm Springs every day of the week – just in time for the Coachella Valley’s popular winter travel season. You can buy your Alaska Airlines tickets now for our ninth destination from Paine Field.

Effective Date	City Pair	Departs	Arrives	Frequency	Aircraft
Nov. 5, 2019	Everett-Palm Springs	12:20 p.m.	3:05 p.m.	Daily	E175
Nov. 5, 2019	Palm Springs-Everett	3:55 p.m.	6:45 p.m.	Daily	E175

“Hands down, Palm Springs was number one on our guests’ wish list for the next destination from Paine Field,” said Noelle Fredrickson, general manager of network planning and strategy for Alaska Airlines. “After three months of flying at Everett, we thought this was a good time to make adjustments to improve the flying experiences for our guests. And hopefully make some people really happy.”

The start of service at Paine Field overall is a big hit – from the ease of getting to the airport, to the luxurious comfort of the new terminal, to the quick boarding process. As of late May, more than 160,000 passengers have flown with us at Paine Field.

Appreciating the popularity of desert destinations, we’re also excited to add a second roundtrip between Everett and Phoenix starting Aug. 26. Tickets for that new flight can be purchased right now.

Other changes are on the horizon, too. To make travel more convenient and efficient for our guests, we’re adjusting the number of flights between Everett and both Portland and Los Angeles.

“We’re optimizing our flight schedule to improve our operations,” said Fredrickson. “By flying three roundtrips a day instead of four to Portland and L.A., we can better provide the key flight times preferred by our business travelers, and allow for better connection windows.”

The adjustment enables us to add the new roundtrips to Palm Springs and Phoenix, while staying within our limit of 18 daily departures at Paine Field.

Alaska Airlines’ service out of Paine Field has been a big hit since it started in March 2019. (Photo by Ingrid Barrentine)

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.

Don’t forget: From our gateway airports on the West Coast – such as Los Angeles and San Francisco – guests can connect with our Global Partners to fly to more than 900 destinations around the globe. Flyers can also earn and redeem miles with Alaska’s highly-acclaimed Mileage Plan program.

Happy flying.

Related stories:

Turning Trash into Art: Hawaiian’s Eco-Showcase by Artist Maika‘i Tubbs

May 31, 2019
blog
Hawaiian Airlines
3 min read

One man’s garbage is another man’s blank canvas.

U.S. East Coast Artist Maika‘i Tubbs has claimed his creative fame with impactful montages pieced together using every-day trash. One of his newest installations was recently featured at ARTafterDARK, a monthly* evening art party at the Honolulu Museum of Art (HoMA) sponsored by Hawaiian Airlines Bank of Hawaii World Elite Mastercard^®. Earth Day led the event theme this April, with Tubbs’ piece featured as the centerpiece of the installation.

His exhibition, called AMEND, was created with used plastic bags as a tribute to Honolulu’ recent plastic bag ban and Hawaii’s movement to eradicate plastic bags. From a spectator’s standpoint, the recycled plastic monster takes a life of its own as a tentacled creature bursting through a courtyards’ water fountain. It surfaces from its aquatic home with an important call-to-action: be mindful consumers.

The artist featured with his installation at HoMA’s April ARTafterDARK party.

Tubbs, an O‘ahu native who moved to Brooklyn, New York several years ago to attend art school, has used his creative mindset to give waste a new purpose and transform it into intricate sculptures and installations. He is an artist with an environmental agenda, leveraging his platform to spark conversations about plastic use and pollution.

“It means a lot to have a sponsor that backs your mission,” said Tubbs. “My entire art practice revolves around working with things that people consider garbage… and it’s really nice to have a sponsor that backs a garbage artist!”

The Hawaiian Airlines Financial and Retail Partnerships team with artist Maika‘i Tubbs.

In addition to sponsoring Tubbs’s piece, Hawaiian and HoMA hosted an evening focused on sustainability. Attendees strung lei with recycled paper, sipped on earthy cocktails crafted by ‘Alohilani Resort Waikiki Beach and received samples of reef-safe sunscreen by Raw Elements USA.

Did you stop by the Hawaiian Airlines table at April’s art party? Those feeling extra lucky could enter for a chance to win 80,000 HawaiianMiles!

ARTafterDARK is one of Honolulu’s most popular evening events and attracts more than 1,200 of the city’s trend-setting art enthusiasts. Throughout the year, attendees can expect to see more eclectic exhibitions that echo important stories and messages relating to our island home.

*January to October only

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

CEO Brad Tilden: Recognizing a pilot’s pilot

May 30, 2019
Company
Alaska Airlines
4 min read

In the early 1980s, a 23-year-old pilot named Mike Baumgartner started calling on Alaska Airlines. He knew he wanted to fly for a living, and he was becoming increasingly more convinced that Alaska Airlines was where he wanted to plant his stake. He grew up in Bellevue, Washington, had gotten his pilot training as a teenager, and had already spent a lot of time in The Great Land, flying fish from Dry Bay, Alaska, to Yakutat in DC-3s.

So, Mike bought a new suit, shaved and walked into the Alaska Airlines corporate office, located near Sea-Tac International Airport. He introduced himself to the nice lady at the front desk (Jan May, a legend in her own right). He didn’t have quite enough experience at the time, but he kept at it. Every time he earned a new rating, he put the suit on again and dropped off another resume. He and Jan came to know each other, and she looked out for him. Finally, the day for an interview came, and she ushered him through the door and, wishing him luck, said, “It’s up to you, kid.”

As Mike recalls, he was really nervous, and essentially failed the interview. Only after the hiring manager stood up to dismiss him did Mike relax and start telling his interviewer who this young pilot really was. They ended up talking for another hour and a half, and Mike got the job. That was February 6, 1984.

Pilot Mike Baumgartner on the flight deck in 1985, a year after he started working for Alaska. (Photo courtesy Mike Baumgartner)

Why all this background? On April 30, Mike and 14 other employees were inducted into Alaska’s Hall of Fame, a group we call our “Customer Service Legends.” To be as direct as possible, most of us believe that the only reason Alaska is still here and still prospering today is because of the extraordinary service that our people provide. For so many of our folks, life—and work—is all about connecting with other people and lifting them up. It’s so simple to say, but such a powerful human experience.

I have so many stories I’d like to tell you about Mike. He is a pilot’s pilot. He flies a lot. He loves aviation. He loves you, our customers. And he loves his fellow employees. He’s one of very few people I know who, when he’s getting ready to hang up the phone, will say—“Hey, Brad, you know I love you.” This is how Mike lives his life. He says, “Alaska has been my family for 35 years, and I do love these people.” As I write this, I’m honestly humbled that we have a guy like this working here.

“I tell new people I fly with, ‘This is your airline. This is all of ours to take care of.’ ”

Mike has flown a ton over his career, but has also made his voice and his leadership count to help us move our culture forward. He’s facilitated employee workshops; he’s volunteered at Aviation Days and countless other activities; and he’s been an ambassador for our airline with investors in New York City and beyond. His smile says it all.

CEO Brad Tilden and Mike Baumgartner at the New York Stock Exchange.

Alaska is fortunate to have so many people who, just by their sheer strength and determination, have lifted the company to greater and greater heights. With our Legend award, we recognize the best of the best. In addition to Mike, there are great people who work in all divisions of the company and in locations ranging from Anchorage to San Diego. Fewer than one-quarter of 1% of our employees are recognized with this honor. They truly are the best of the best.

I sat down with Mike on the day of our Legends celebration and asked him how he felt as he nears the twilight of his career; he’ll reach the mandatory pilot retirement age of 65 in just three and a half years. He said, “I love this place. Alaska is our airline to take care of. I tell new people I fly with, ‘This is your airline. This is all of ours to take care of.’ ”

Thank you, Mike. You’ve taken good care of us. And thank you to your fellow 2019 Legends for giving this place your all. The sky’s the limit with people like you.

Also, thanks to you, our guests, for flying with us today, and thank you for reading about Mike and our other extraordinary Legends.

This column also appears in the June 2019 issue of Alaska Beyond Magazine.

At Alaska Airlines, honoring the fallen and their families

May 27, 2019
Community
Alaska Airlines
5 min read

On the airfield, one cart is reserved for heroes.

For the families of the fallen, the cart with American flag curtains and the insignia of the five branches of the military — the most visible part of Alaska Airlines’ Fallen Soldier Program — means their loved ones will be surrounded with respect and honor from those who accompany them on their final journey.

When a flag-draped coffin is carried off a plane and placed on the cart, the flight, maintenance and baggage crew members stand at attention on the tarmac — a powerful sight for a grieving family, says Julia Schmidtke, an Alaska flight attendant. Her 25-year-old son, Hunter Schmidtke, died in 2018 while serving at Fort Riley, Kansas: “It was amazing and meant so much to see all the working groups come together,” she says.

The 11th cart was delivered to Fairbanks in July 2019.

The experience was so important to Schmidtke that she became a program volunteer – and she was in Phoenix when the tenth Fallen Soldier cart was delivered to Sky Harbor International Airport in May. “It’s important to know what a Gold Star mom looks like,” she says.

Alaska employees delivered the 11th cart in the program to Fairbanks International Airport in time to be of service just before the Fourth of July. The carts are crafted by a team of Alaska’s Maintenance and Engineering department and are stationed at airports around the country. They’re available to honor members and veterans of all branches of the military.

Alaska’s Fallen Soldier Program employee training now includes this video shared by the Schmidtke family. In addition to photos from Hunter Schmidtke’s life, it shows the “Honoring Those Who Serve” plane that carried their son to Sea-Tac.

The interior of the Fairbanks cart is customized with a metal crafting of the Alaska state flag. The cart’s sections were flown from Seattle to Anchorage, where the cart was assembled and then escorted to Fairbanks by the Patriot Guard Riders and police.

In addition to Fairbanks and Phoenix, Alaska Airlines has dedicated carts in Anchorage, Seattle, Portland, San Diego, Los Angeles, Honolulu, Washington, D.C., Dallas and San Francisco. While the carts remain under Alaska’s care at each airport, they are available for any airline to use when transporting remains.

When the Fallen Soldier cart was delivered in Phoenix in May 2019, a custom “Honoring Those Who Serve” tug was given to the team to bring back to Seattle. On the tug: James Rea, Alaska lead line avionics technician; and driving the tug, Joe Burdolski, designer of the tug and a resident of Chandler, Arizona. The tug is now at Sea-Tac, where it is used with the Fallen Soldier cart. (Photo by Tim Thompson)

Brian Bowden, a line aircraft technician and Air Force veteran, helped start the Fallen Soldiers Program in 2011. In addition to creating the carts, the program established protocols for employees to follow when a service member’s body is traveling. Bowden notes that program volunteers include veterans and non-veterans. “We all wanted to take care of those who take care of us,” he says. “Freedom isn’t free. It comes at a price.”

“We are just trying to have soldiers’ backs and provide them with this service on their final journey home, so their loved ones know that people cared about what they did,” Bowden says. “You can never take away their pain, but you can show you care.”

As she volunteers with the program, Shmidtke often talks — and listens — to fallen soldiers’ families as they’re taking their loved ones home. “I think it provides some comfort to have someone sit with them who’s been through what they’re going through,” she says. And volunteering has helped her, as well: “It’s been a real healing experience for myself, and I’m so glad I opened myself up to it.”

The KING 5 News team in Seattle also recently produced this story on the Fallen Soldier Program:

https://media.king5.com/embeds/video/281-16497dd0-b362-48ba-931b-cd695def45da/iframe

The “Honoring Those Who Serve” livery

In 2016, Alaska created a plane livery called “Honoring Those Who Serve” dedicated to the men and women currently serving in the military as well as veterans and their families. A crest, to the right of the cargo door, represents our Fallen Soldier Program. The plane is used to transport fallen soldiers flying on Alaska Airlines, as well as for special flights, like our Honor Flights, to help veterans visit memorials in D.C.

Schmidtke’s son’s body was flown from Kansas to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on one of the planes. “To have him brought home on the honor plane was a really big deal,” she says.

This year, Alaska launched its second plane in the livery, allowing the airline to serve new stations including Hawaii and Reagan National International, increasing the reach of the Fallen Solider Program.

Fallen Soldier Program through the years

At the Seattle Hangar, John Van Dyke attaches plaques representing the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard.

Celebrating 15 Years of Nonstop Service Down Under

May 23, 2019
blog
Hawaiian Airlines
4 min read

G’day from Australia!

Our Hawaiian Airlines ‘ohana threw on our best party hats for our latest company milestone: 15 wonderful years of nonstop service between Sydney and Honolulu. We blew the birthday candles last Friday, marking 15 years to the day since we introduced our warm Hawaiian hospitality in the land down under.

Hawaiian Airlines has a longstanding commitment to Australia. One example? Helping launch ‘The Hawaiian Airlines Sydney Harbour Outrigger Challenge’ – an endurance race in Sydney Harbour. This photo celebrates our employee volunteers who paddled at the event in 2015.

“We’ve had an incredible legacy as Hawai‘i’s largest and longest-serving airline,” said Andrew Stanbury, Hawaiian’s regional director for Australia and New Zealand, noting the carrier is also celebrating 90 years of continuous operations. “On behalf of our entire ‘ohana, I would like to say mahalo to our hardworking team and loyal guests for growing Hawaiian Airlines into a popular household name in Sydney and throughout Australia.”

On May 17, we welcomed guests boarding flight HA452 at Sydney Airport (SYD) with birthday cupcakes, fresh flower lei and strummed our ukuleles for a gate-side hula performance.

As part of the gate-side celebration, we gifted two complimentary upgrades to Extra Comfort. Pictured L to R: Andrew Stanbury, regional director for Australia and New Zealand, our Extra Comfort winners, Lee Anne Drummond, manager of operations at SYD, and Karen MacMillan, director of Australia sales and partnerships.

“Since 2004, we’ve provided our Aussie guests with award-winning, authentic Hawaiian hospitality and today, it’s our honor to serve you during this special time,” Brian Worth, senior director of airport operations at Hawaiian Airlines, told guests waiting to board.

Our flight attendants celebrating at the gate in SYD prior to boarding HA452.

We kept the celebration going into the following Monday at a special luncheon hosted by our extended Sydney sales ‘ohana at the city’s new waterfront precinct of Barangaroo. Over a table full of island-inspired food and drinks, and some favorite local music in the background (think Keauhou, Anuhea, Kolohe Kai and Kimie Miner), we celebrated the route’s success and offered a special mahalo to our travel partners for their contributions.

Stanbury recognized our deep roots in the islands and in Australia, sharing the following insights:

Over 1.71 million travelers have flown between SYD and HNL on Hawaiian Airlines since we launched service in 2004;
In the past five years (2014-2019), one in four guests departing from Australia (Sydney and Brisbane combined) on Hawaiian Airlines continue their travel on our flights to the U.S. Mainland, and five percent of this group took advantage of a multi-day stopover in Honolulu at some point of their travel;
Our aussie guests' favorite Neighbor Island connections from SYD include Kahului on Maui, Kona on the Island of Hawai‘i, and Līhu‘e on Kaua‘i; and
Their top U.S. Mainland connections offered by Hawaiian’s network include Los Angeles (LAX), New York City (JFK), and Las Vegas (LAS).

The crowd favorite: the integration of the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, an ultra-fuel-efficient aircraft being equipped with top-of-the-line seat technology, into Hawaiian’s fleet starting in 2021.

The Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner

“We are currently evaluating exactly where these planes will fly, though we do highly anticipate the Boeing 787-9 to service Oceania,” Stanbury said.

“Adding the Boeing 787-9 to our existing Airbus A330 fleet of long-haul aircraft will open opportunities to launch new service. It’s too early to announce potential new routes, but we are excited about the prospect of increasing our network, and Oceania will certainly be part of our planning.”

Learn more about our nonstop service between Honolulu and Sydney or book your next trip down under by clicking here.

Copper River salmon 2019: First fish are the stars on the red carpet in Seattle

May 17, 2019
Community
Alaska Airlines
3 min read

This week marks the official start of the 2019 Copper River king salmon season in Cordova, Alaska — and for many people, these salmon are the first sign that summer is on the way.

In celebration of the first catch, Alaska Airlines hosted a red carpet welcome for the Copper River salmon arriving Friday at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. About 18,000 pounds of fresh fish were on the early-morning flight.

The outlook for the season is good, with the forecast for Copper River kings up from past years, and the sockeye projections holding steady, according to Christa Hoover, executive director of the Copper River Marketing Association. “We hope to see 55,000 king salmon and close to 1.5 million sockeye return to the Copper River this season,” she says.

“Cordova is off the road system here in Alaska, and we rely heavily on the passenger and cargo services that Alaska Airlines provides year-round,” Hoover says. “For nearly a decade, Alaska Airlines has flown the first Copper River salmon of the season to Seattle and beyond. In just a matter of hours, Copper River salmon is transported from the fisherman to dinner tables across the country.”

“I am an Alaskan fisherman”: A spotlight on the people who catch your fish

For the fishermen of Cordova, this moment is what they’ve been waiting for all year.

Darin Gilman started fishing with his father, Shawn Gilman, when he was only 5 years old. Growing up and watching his dad instilled a sense of pride in Darin that led him to work alongside his father at the same fishery today.

“It’s been wonderful to watch my son and the next generation of fishermen come up,” says Shawn Gilman. “I hope that they can pass our traditions and our fishery on in as good of shape as my generation was able to do for them.”

While neither man would say it’s easy work — acting as their own boat mechanics, net menders and salmon trackers — the Gilmans and other Cordova fishermen are true artisans. And they take pride in Cordova’s sustainable fishing practices. “We make sure year after year to have enough fish go up the rivers so they’ll keep coming back,” Darin Gilman says.

The Honkola family and others fishing in Cordova are dedicated to the preservation of salmon and their ecosystem, recognizing that their work today impacts what others can enjoy in the future. “To be a fisherman, you have to be dedicated, patient, and most importantly, passionate about sustainability,” James Honkola says.

Reflecting on her decades-long career, Thea Thomas recalls making the decision to follow her dream to fish in Alaska — at a time when few women worked in the industry. The best advice she received came from her father, who told her: “The most important thing is figuring out what you want to do. Don’t worry about the money, just make sure this is really what you want to do.”

Thomas thinks about retirement, but can’t bring herself to do it. “I love Cordova,” she says. “I love what I do.”

Seattle Storm and Alaska: Going the extra mile at the free-throw line

May 14, 2019
Community
Alaska Airlines
7 min read

The Seattle Storm’s free throws will go a little further this season — about one million miles further.

Today, Alaska Airlines and Seattle’s defending WNBA champions announced an exclusive multi-year partnership and the “Free Throws for the Future” program, which will donate airline miles to community organizations working with young people. For every free throw made by Storm players throughout the 2019 season, Alaska will donate 2,000 airline miles. Last season, Storm players averaged 13.9 points per game from the foul line, which will now feature the Alaska logo on the Storm’s home court.

As they celebrated the new free-throw line sponsorship, Diana Birkett Rakow, Alaska’s vice president of external relations, and Storm CEO Alisha Valavanis took a moment to reflect on the values of partnership, leadership — and the commitment to elevate young people in our community.

Storm CEO and General Manager Alisha Valavanis.

DBR: Alisha, you and your team are fantastic partners and champions for so many around our region. You’re recognized for your humility and drive to grow the team, to learn together, and to excel — but to never rest on your laurels. You’re national champs, and back out there this year to strive for the next level of performance. That’s a good model for business, too.

A year or so ago, we talked about taking our partnership to a new level by empowering women and girls to own their strengths — on or off the court. My own grandmother was a brainy powerhouse, but I think it took her until she was in her 80s to fully own that. As for sports, she used to remind me that sweating wasn’t appropriate for girls (so I went ahead and played ice hockey). Times have certainly changed, but many kids don’t have enough champions — people who say “who you are is amazing, and you CAN play ball, or fly airplanes, or make robots, or work in finance, or lead.” At Alaska Airlines we’ve been talking a lot about how, as a community, we lift and empower young people furthest from opportunity to realize great futures — through inclusive education, mentors and models, exposure to career options and more.

When you’re building a roster for the Storm, you’re looking for amazing basketball talent — but probably some other characteristics of great team players. Some things that won’t necessarily be taught in a classroom, but might be relevant for any career path. What are the elements of great players — and leaders — that you look for to make up a championship team?

AV: I grew up in a big family, I have an identical twin and four other siblings, so being on a team started very early. Long before I understood team dynamics and what it would take to cultivate a winning team, I learned the fundamentals from my family unit. We shared common values instilled in us by our parents: honestly, kindness, generosity and passion. There was also space for our individuality, curiosity and adventure. When I think about the kind of leader I am today and some of the principles used to build the Seattle Storm, I think about those early lessons. Successful teams share core values that create the culture needed to achieve the highest levels of success, oftentimes in the face of great adversity.

But it is also true that winning takes talent, in the front office and on the court. In the WNBA we have the most elite women’s basketball players in the world; these athletes have spent decades committed to their game. We are fortunate to have a team that has been led by the best point guard in basketball history, Sue Bird. We have an ownership group and a front office and a basketball staff that are all working from the same playbook. There is clear vision and a relentless commitment to team that is in pursuit of success and committed to it. So, if I had to put it in one word it would be “culture.” Our culture created the space for talent and teamwork to achieve the greatest results possible; championships!

DBR: Culture matters so much! At Alaska, it is one of our greatest areas of focus. But I also wanted to ask you about how you share the story of the team. I saw recently that the league secured additional coverage through CBS Sports Network; congratulations! Why is that important?

AV: I believe the growth of this league is directly correlated to the visibility of this league. The exposure that the league gains through deals like the one with CBS Sports Network is imperative to developing new fans and exposing the country and the world to the WNBA. This season they will carry 40 live WNBA games, including six Storm games. Between the league’s deals with ESPN and CBS Sports Network, our partnership with JOEtv, and live-streamed games on Twitter and WNBA League Pass, people will get to know Storm Basketball.

DBR: Congratulations! OK, so my son loves the Storm, and proudly wears your gear. When he went to a game, he was impressed how fast the Storm players are. Makes me wonder — what are the demographics of your fan base? Does it skew female or are men watching women’s sports? Might my son be part of a new generation who does watch women’s sports?

By the way, we also recently introduced him to the Rat City Rollergirls — they are a good example of resilience! Those women are knocked down over and over, and get right back up and GO. And then hug each other at the end! Sportsmanship AND drive.

AV: That’s awesome, Diana, I love that your little one is getting exposure to all types of sport!

One of my favorite games last year was when I got to sit next to your son because it gave me the chance to experience the game from his perspective. There’s so much joy in sports and so many fantastic role models. It’s special to see how kids respond to that. It reminds me of one of my favorite memories during the playoffs last year. I was at a coffee shop — very Seattle, I know — when a father approached me and said that his little ones were chanting “PLAYOFFS!” while eating their cereal that morning. They are part of a generation that is growing up in a time when little girls and little boys can have strong female role models on the court.

Our fan base is incredibly diverse, and as far as numbers go it’s fairly equal between women and men for attendance. But what continues to be a top priority is to get families and kids out to games. It’s awesome entertainment that has the potential to really drive positive societal change; imagine all our children given the opportunity to look up to elite female athletes as well.

DBR: Really cool, thank you for being such great role models. Now, one final question — What’s your favorite place to fly, nationally or globally, and why?

AV: I absolutely love to fly. I love traveling around the country and the globe whenever possible, and basketball has definitely given me the opportunity to do that! One of my favorite spots every season is Chicago because I get the chance to meet up with family and spend time with them. New York is another place that’s circled on my calendar every year. I love the energy of New York and the restaurant and art scene. But of course, there’s no greater feeling than coming back to Seattle, flying over Mount Rainier and Puget Sound, and finally touching down at home.

DBR: Thank you, Alisha, and go Seattle Storm!

AV: Thank you, Diana. We’re thrilled to partner and excited to team up to make a positive impact in Seattle.

Cloud-Based SmartKargo, Hawaiian Airlines Renew 5-Year Contract

May 8, 2019
releases
Hawaiian Airlines
5 min read

CAMBRIDGE, MASS – QuantumID Technologies today announced that Hawaiian Airlines has renewed its 5-year contract with SmartKargo, continuing the cloud-delivered real-time management of the carrier’s air cargo business using the advanced end-to-end Software as a Service (SaaS) solution. Hawaiian was the first U.S. carrier to adopt the SmartKargo Cloud platform in 2014, with the implementation Go Live in the second quarter of 2015.

Since then, the airline has utilized the innovative set of integrated tools that the SmartKargo SaaS solution offers to support and grow its domestic and international Cargo business, including the addition of freighter-configured ATR-72 aircraft to support a new All Cargo Overnight service within the Hawaiian Islands. The airline in 2017 also unveiled its multimillion-dollar Charles I. Elliott Maintenance and Cargo Facility, the Honolulu hub of its cargo business.

Brad Matheny, managing director of cargo at Hawaiian said: “For the past 5 years, the SmartKargo Cloud solution has provided Hawaiian Air Cargo with the advanced digital tools needed to quickly transform our cargo operations. As a result, our team was able to further digitize our processes to support faster air freight operations, growth and an improved experience for our customers in Hawai‘i and abroad. We are very pleased to extend the partnership and look forward to continuing to grow and innovate.”

SmartKargo has allowed Hawaiian to empower customers with real-time shipment information, gain access to advanced tools such as mobile apps and integrate quickly, and seamlessly, with airline systems and a network of 3rd party providers. This was accomplished via the SaaS solution offered through the Microsoft Azure platform and the large number of APIs that SmartKargo can provide.

The enhanced capabilities of the SaaS solution have also given Hawaiian access to paperless e-AWBs; ease of booking for Cargo agents and customers with single- screen data entries; powerful pricing and rate-making via simplification; real-time capacity management: user-configurable real-time Business Intelligence and reporting; and integrated Cargo Revenue accounting.

In addition, streamlined participation in e-commerce growth is available to Hawaiian via the platform to operate first-mile pick-up and last-mile delivery for e-commerce—facilitating B2B or B2C door-to-door operations via mobile applications and 3rd party integrations.

Milind Tavshikar, CEO, QuantumID Technologies, SmartKargo said: “On behalf of the SmartKargo team, we are grateful to have the continued support of Hawaiian’s Air Cargo team as well as their exemplary and forward-looking leadership. We look forward to supporting their growth and in enabling new opportunities in the marketplace as they arise.”

About SmartKargo

The SmartKargo end-to-end platform has robust mobile applications and advanced technologies such as real-time information, business intelligence, mobile apps, and machine-learning capabilities–while providing quick and seamless integrations with an airline’s current or future systems via APIs, for fast deployment and integration.

The end-to-end technology is an extension of the SmartKargo Cloud SaaS solution that is built upon the world’s leading global cloud infrastructure, Microsoft Azure. SmartKargo Cloud provides ease-of-use and instant access to shipment information for all members of the value chain. Azure is the world’s leading cloud platform that supports our robust mobile applications.

About Hawaiian Air Cargo

As the first U.S. airline certified to ship cargo in 1942, Hawaiian Air Cargo is a flagship carrier of the Pacific. For more than 70 years, we have provided high quality overseas shipping and outstanding customer service. Our dedication has helped us build outstanding relationships with local and international customers, freight forwarders, carriers and many others in the industry. Our streamlined process begins the moment you request an estimate for shipping cargo. Whether you’re shipping an animal, food or furniture, we’re committed to giving you clear and easy-to-understand estimates and guidelines for all your air shipping needs. We offer personalized service that includes fast and affordable shipping for domestic and international cargo that are tailored to your needs.

About Hawaiian Airlines

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

Hawaiian Airlines Reports April 2019 Traffic Statistics

May 7, 2019
releases
Hawaiian Airlines
2 min read

HONOLULU, May 7, 2019 /PRNewswire/ — Hawaiian Airlines, Inc., a subsidiary of Hawaiian Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: HA) ("Hawaiian"), today announced its system-wide traffic statistics for the month ended April 30, 2019.

(PRNewsfoto/Hawaiian Holdings, Inc.)

Hawaiian welcomed more than 947,000 guests in April. Total traffic (revenue passenger miles) increased 3.7 percent on an increase of 3.9 percent in capacity (available seat miles) compared to April 2018. Load factor decreased 0.2 points year-over-year to 85.0 percent.

The table below summarizes April and year-to-date statistics compared to the respective prior-year periods.

SYSTEM-WIDE OPERATIONS¹

APRIL	2019	2018	% CHANGE
PAX	947,438	961,431	(1.5%)
RPMs (000)	1,437,569	1,386,621	3.7%
ASMs (000)	1,691,970	1,627,927	3.9%
LF	85.0%	85.2%	(0.2) pts

YEAR-TO-DATE	2019	2018	% CHANGE
PAX	3,770,072	3,852,953	(2.2%)
RPMS (000)	5,566,054	5,417,404	2.7%
ASMS (000)	6,543,890	6,359,424	2.9%
LF	85.1%	85.2%	(0.1) pts


PAX	Passengers transported
RPM	Revenue Passenger Mile; one paying passenger transported one mile
ASM	Available Seat Mile; one seat transported one mile
LF	Load Factor; percentage of seating capacity filled

¹Includes the operations of contract carriers under capacity purchase agreements.

About Hawaiian Airlines

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.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hawaiian-airlines-reports-april-2019-traffic-statistics-300843867.html

SOURCE Hawaiian Airlines, Inc.

A Morning with the Boston Plane Spotters

May 7, 2019
blog
Hawaiian Airlines
5 min read

On a brisk New England morning, Hawaiian Airlines made history as the first carrier to offer non-stop service between Boston (BOS) and Honolulu (HNL). Today, the route holds the title as the longest interstate flight in U.S. history.

Our Hawaiian Airlines ‘ohana kicked off the inaugural HA89 (BOS-HNL) flight in true island style, welcoming our guests in the same hospitable way we would welcome them into our home. We indulged guests arriving at our gate with complimentary food and drinks, music and hula, and a few words from Hawaiian Airlines President and CEO Peter Ingram. Then, as guests boarded the aircraft, each received a fresh orchid lei – a special memento that embodies the aloha spirit of Hawaiian culture.

Amid the celebrations, I grabbed my camera and made a run for the top floor of the airport’s Central Parking Garage. This, I learned via coconut wireless (word-of-mouth), was a popular watering hole for the Boston Plane Spotters, a group of aviation enthusiasts who live for photographing airplanes.

Sure enough, I found the group angling their lenses at Runway 33L outside of Terminal E, with East Boston across the harbor as their backdrop. We welcomed each other and talked story (had a conversation) to pass time until our Hawaiian Airlines Airbus A330 would be positioned for take-off.

The author offering a welcoming lei to a BOS plane spotter. Photo courtesy of Thornton Shepherd

“We always love to celebrate these things, but when an airline includes us in their special day, it’s fantastic,” said Thornton Shepherd, founder of the Boston Plane Spotters.

This gathering was unlike any other for the group. For many, it was the first time they met Pualani – the unmistakable Flower of the Sky icon adorning the tails of our fleet — and saw her proud gaze in the Massachusetts skies.

Marissa Villegas, Mana‘o editor (third from left), and Ann Botticelli, senior vice president of corporate communications and public affairs (sixth from left), with the Plane Spotters. Photo courtesy of Vance Martin.

“We are so happy to have a new airline coming into Boston, particularly one with Pualani on the vertical stabilizer,” said Jeffery Magnet, a longtime BOS plane spotter.

I learned plane spotting happens daily at BOS. The group was created by a collective of aviation lovers who organize gatherings around all things aviation. Their ears perk to news of inaugurals, interesting liveries, notable air turn-backs, and more.

“Spotters are out every day, especially for these events,” said Thornton. “We had an inaugural from another flight last week and some of us actually flew on the plane to take pictures from the inside while others took pictures from the ground.”

Photo courtesy of Vance Martin.

The group includes a mix of personalities, including pilots, aviation bloggers and just your “average Joe” mesmerized by airplanes since childhood. During a conversation, Magnet reminisced on when he and his father would go to the airport, walk on the tarmac and place his hands on a new Trans World Airlines aircraft. Nowadays, he shared, he prefers to take photos from a helicopter.

Plane spotters rely heavily on applications like live Air Traffic Control, Flightradar24, FlightAware, and other trackers to map an aircraft’s exact location and know when and where they need to set up with their camera gear.

In the case of HA90 (our first flight to Boston from Honolulu), the group followed the aircraft’s path the night prior, set their alarms, and woke up before sunrise to document the plane’s wheels touch the runway.

“I woke up this morning and the first thing I did was look at Flightradar24 to see where it was, and it was over Detroit, so I knew I had time to get over here,” Thornton said.

Plane spotters on top of the Central Parking Garage at BOS after the arrival of Hawaiian's inaugural flight from Honolulu. Photo courtesy of Thornton Shepherd.

Most of the first group returned to the warmth of their homes to prepare for the day ahead, while others like Thornton braced the bitter cold for the departure of HA89. When the time came for our Airbus A330 to spread its wings, the spotters took their positions to capture the perfect shot.

Pualani left our sight, bound for warmer shores, and I thanked them for allowing me to be a spotter for a morning. As I said my goodbyes, Thornton admitted to me that, just as the plane took off, his camera battery died due to the cold air.

“I wasn’t expecting that to happen, and it was one of the first times I’ve watched through my own eyes and not the lens of a camera,” he said. “It was actually a truly beautiful moment.”

Photo courtesy of Ora Lassila.

Click here to learn more about why we chose Boston as our newest route, or here to experience our flight.

SLIDESHOW: Check out some of my favorite shots from our inaugural flight and morning with the Boston Plane Spotters. Click the arrows or photos to view more. Image credits can be found in the file name when you right click + save image as.

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