What do you think will happen next in Hawaii air travel? At last week’s Hawaii Tourism Conference, that was one of the most popular questions. With it came talk of the following carriers’ interest in flights to Hawaii.
1. Asia/Pacific Carriers: Cebu Pacific, Jin Air, Skymark, Air Busan, Hong Kong Airlines and Scoot.
2. European Carriers: Norwegian.
3. US airlines. We still anticipate the long awaited arrival of Southwest Airlines in Hawaii. While there is no recent news on that front, when it happens, it will be a game changing event. We’ve previously mentioned Virgin America and Jet Blue as other potential mainland to Hawaii candidates and those remain as possible contenders.
Fact: Even before any new players arrive, this year’s mainland to Hawaii seat capacity is expected to rise 4% over 2013. That is in large part due to expansion by Hawaiian Airlines. International seat capacity will also be up 2.5% for the year.
New mainland to Hawaii routes on the horizon
In the short term these may include the following:
- Hawaiian Airlines: added direct seasonal service by from the Bay Area, Southern California and Pacific Northwest to the neighbor islands. This following the first such service which has taken place this summer from Oakland and Los Angeles to Kona and Kauai.
- Alaska Airlines: more neighbor island direct seasonal service including Portland and perhaps other Alaska locations as well.
- Delta Airlines: additional seasonal service. For example Delta is adding a New York/Honolulu nonstop to their holiday offerings.
Hawaii’s record setting pace.
How to attract visitors to Hawaii remains among the list of top industry issues even as visitor spending and arrivals continue at a three year record pace. Hawaii faces an ongoing battle for visitors with highly competitive vacation destinations including Mexico and to a lesser degree the Caribbean. The ability to offer Hawaii deals is crucial to the islands’ success, and increased flights resulting in airline competition are a big part of that equation.
Is there any info on why flight deals out of Sacramento, CA are non-existent this year so far?? I’m waiting till the last minute still to book my family’s flights for my wedding in early October – yikes! We’re still at $525 RT 🙁
Ever since the demise of ATA (which left me stranded on the Big Island…oh poor baby) I have been hoping for a non-stop to Hilo. Will one of the carriers PLEASE cover this route!