Much of interest to Hawaii travelers from bellwether Hawaiian Airlines and their quarterly earnings call this morning. First, by June, all domestic routes will have resumed, and the company is set to fly more domestically than ever before, even before COVID. Wow. What a difference two months can make.
CEO Peter Ingram said, “Leisure travel has been growing very well, and we are particularly well-positioned… Average fares have continued to improve.” He added, “Right now, North America is booking out very similar to 2019… (with) pent-up demand for leisure travel after a year of lockdown… We are out of the ditch and back on the highway… Demand looks much more like pre-pandemic.”
BOH: Depending on when and how international travel either resumes or doesn’t, Hawaiian plans to look at other opportunities to utilize its resources. That will include domestic travel, which could, in turn, hopefully, result in additional routes. We continue to expect Hawaiian to expand in the middle-US, among other new route possibilities.
First-class now in growing demand.
Hawaiian’s CEO said, “We’re seeing a good amount of strength in our front cabin. It has come back exceedingly strong and may even exceed 2019 levels.”
BOH: Premium, business, and first-class are seeing a resurgence post-COVID. That, as people look to have more personal space onboard after a year of physical distancing. While premium is already available, even more space will become soon when Hawaiian introduces its new 787 Dreamliner fleet on routes yet to be announced.
Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet still starts late next year.
Hawaiian will begin delivery of the first two of 10, 787s late in 2022. They are set to enter service by early 2023. These planes will offer larger, more luxurious accommodations than offered currently.
BOH: Depending on international travel resumption, London and Southeast Asia remain two of the most likely destinations, although there are other possibilities, including some domestic routes. We see the opportunity for New York flights, for example, to use the premium aircraft.
New onboard services.
On June 1, 2021, the company will resume onboard services such as drink service, free Koloa Breeze cocktails in economy, and assorted alcoholic beverages and snacks for purchase. Complimentary meals for all passengers are also continuing. And, starting May 1, priority boarding is being reinstated.
BOH: Premium service defines Hawaiian’s raison d’etre. The sooner they can reinstate their full-service components, the better positioned they are.
Additional 5 routes will all be in the air by next month.
Maui to Long Beach flights began on March 9, 2021.
Flights from Honolulu to Orlando started on March 11, 2021.
Honolulu to Ontario flights, which was the reinstatement of a prior route, resumed on March 16, 2021.
Flights from Honolulu to Austin began on April 21, 2021.
Maui to Phoenix flights, the last up of new routes announced, will commence on May 21.
Can Hawaii overall meet this increased travel demand?
Hawaiian has confidence that Hawaii has the capacity. Obviously, the rental car problem which we’ve addressed repeated must be resolved. Hawaiian described the problem as “transitory, which will work itself out.”
CEO Ingram added that the Safe Travels process is something they are keeping a close eye on in terms of both testing and vaccination components. They are working closely with travel partners to keep people moving through Hawaii’s airports efficiently, adding there is a need to “keep an eye on the guest experience.”
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Jesse A says
With the current car rental shortages, is there any chance Maui west Kapalua (JHM) resumes interisland via Hawaiian or another airlines? Thanks
Beat of Hawaii says
Hi Jesse.
There is service on Mokulele. Not sure if Hawaiian sees the need to add that as well.
Aloha.
Aniruddh P says
Yesterday, Hawaiian Airlines abruptly cancelled my return leg reservation in June without rationale. The moved around the times of my inter-island flights as well. Their phone number, which usually involves holds up to 9 hours with frequent dropped calls, was not functioning last night. Their chat was also down. Their website also isn’t working fo rebooking. I had planned a complete itinerary and now have to redo it because the available return flights don’t work for me. I put in demands for full refund requests and will be rebooking on American for long haul and Southwest for inter island flights. Is this company going out of business? Their twitter and Facebook accounts have a sea of identical complaints over the past days to weeks.
JohnW says
Lot of fiction in this post!….nuf said
( I suspect a someone trying to promote a Texas Airline😀
Anonymouse says
Yeah to the point of canceling our booked flights that we just rebooked a couple of days ago
Theresa L. says
Thanks for your website!
Sandra T says
Do you know if and when Hawaiian and Southwest will accept proof of vaccination in lieu of a negative Covid test?
Thank You
Beat of Hawaii says
Hi Sandra.
That is up to the state and has not been announced. Hopefully this summer sometime.
Aloha.
Roy H says
This article makes me both happy and hopeful. Hopefully in a few months Hawaii will return to normal.
Aloha Guys
Beat of Hawaii says
Hi Roy.
We sure hope so too. Thank you.
Aloha.
sean says
No chance.
Hawaii will be the last State in the US to return to normal and drop their mandates. 2022 at the earliest.
Meanwhile in Tx, FL and now Vegas. Booming, with no spike.
Linda B says
This has nothing to do with this blog, but we’re hearing horror stories about lack of rental cars and price gouging on Maui. Is this going to be a new normal? TIA
Beat of Hawaii says
Hi Linda.
You’ll find all the news about what’s going on with Hawaii car rentals here.
Aloha.
Sue H says
I think more people are flying first class now because it has been so long since they have flown that they have had plenty of time to save up for a first class ticket. That’s my reason anyway.
sean says
It could also be that the more well off got richer this past year, while the poorer got poorer due to State leaders.
My retirement nearly doubled this year, and property value skyrocketed. At the same time the State govt’s shut down businesses who’s primary workers were minorities.
Nothing like advocating for “equity” and at the same time creating a larger “equity gap”. Thank you States.. I may retire 7 yrs early now.
Kevin says
This site seems to favor Hawaiian airlines over the others. Do we have a former employee as part of Beat of Hawaii?
John says
It’s a Hawaii site? Hawaiian is an integral part of air service in Hawaii.
Safe to say the premier airline serving Hawaii.
I would hope Hawaiian Airlines is prominent here.
Beat of Hawaii says
Hi John and Sean.
Thanks for the hand. While not necessarily obvious to those outside of Hawaii, the airline is something akin to a national flag carrier airline of another country. Also, they are the largest private employer in Hwaii.
By the way, the answer to the original question is no. Jeff has never worked for any airline and Rob once worked for United Airlines, albeit many years ago.
Aloha.
sean says
After a year of dealing with nonsense, mandates that lack in common sense, mainland bashing and such…. my patience for stupidity is at an all time low.
Being in the travel industry, I appreciate 90% of your viewpoints. Obviously not vaccine passports and such..
John says
My pleasure….there is a substantial difference between Hawaiian in that all the other airlines serve Hawaii as a small part of what they do, Hawaii is all Hawaiian does. There is a difference, their cliche slogan about being in Hawaii when you board rather then waiting till you land actually has a fair amount of truth to it.
Beat of Hawaii says
Hi John.
Thanks. Yes, we concur and that is well stated. Tell you this: when you’re at Sydney Airport, for example, and you see the Pualani tail, it is a very special feeling about coming home. We fly all the airlines, and they all have their strengths and weaknesses. This is something different.
Aloha.
sean says
Since it’s a Hawaii Travel website and Hawaiian is the “local” carrier… Common sense elude you today?
Eileen M. says
Love all your articles. I can only hope Alaska will follow Hawaiian Airlines and start bringing back the food and beverage service. We are coming in June and its a long flight to have very little service.
Beat of Hawaii says
Hi Eileen.
Thank you! It seems like there will be more service components across the board as the airlines get going again.
Aloha.
Linda H says
Thank you for the great information on Hawaiian Airlines and their flights. Mahalo
Beat of Hawaii says
Hi Linda.
Thanks. We appreciate your many comments.
Aloha.
Ed. C says
Excellent news! Glad to hear people are getting on with their lives. Now, if only Hawaii will open up to vaccinated travelers like the EU is doing and the UK is planning on soon.
Aloha!
Beat of Hawaii says
Hi Ed.
It would seem like international travel resumption might be coming up soon.
Aloha.
Rich says
I do hope so. Although I saw a report the President is thinking of banning 4th of July celebration this years. There has been a strong undertow of 19th Century isolationism since he took office which is regrettable. Mid May is supposedly when bans will be relaxed so let us see, Compared to the Overseas traveler requirements the Hawaii ones are a breeze, now Kauai has come into line, Hawaiian proposing a London Non Stop could see a sea change in the Hawaii market as UK travelers used to hassle free trips to EU sun spots now facing authorities being awkward to try and punish the Brits might be attracted to Hawaii as they are to Florida with the removal of the dreaded connection in California and arriving on delayed flights at 1.00 am having been on planes for almost a day. Not much fun in the back and the California flights no longer offer real sleeper seats. Maybe if Hawaiian open London then the AA BA joint venture might start with a dreamliner which would surely motivate Lufthansa out of Frankfurt as Germans love to travel. However that all requires President Biden to come out of the bunker. So watching this space with interest. Last Christmas / New Year was very quiet on Oahu so not lines but many places were still closed. I think this year will be crazy. Let’s hope Businesses and Jobs rebound.
Kelly says
Most international destinations are still requiring a negative test 72 hours before flight, just like Hawaii.
There are too many tourists here now with very little staff to support them. Vendors here in Kailua Kona are really scrambling to find employees.
Until unemployment runs out this is going to continue to be a problem for the tourist experience here.
sean says
Hawaii will most certainly be the last State to do away with mandates. The rest of the country will be done with the Vid and we’ll still have interisland restrictions on travel.
Watch their reaction to today’s CDC mask outdoors recommendations.
Our “leaders” are the biggest group of nitwits in America.
Anonymouse says
Sean please shut it. Guess what flying into the USA requires a negative test from overseas
Joan b says
Aloha! This is great news but the rental car companies need to follow. It was a 2 1/2 hour wait with one agent on Kauai. There are very few cars and even fewer employees.
Thanks for your updates.
Beat of Hawaii says
Hi Joan.
Sorry to hear that. Yes, not enough employees. We are hearing more reports of that, and not just in rental cars.
Aloha.