Tag Archives: Honolulu

Aloha Air Cargo adds two Boeing 737-300 freighters

Aloha Air Cargo (Honolulu) has announced the initiation of its fleet replacement plan with the purchase of two former Lufthansa Boeing 737-300SF all cargo converted aircraft. The first 737-300 (737-330 N301KH, msn 27904) was delivered on June 2, 2014 and recently entered operations with the second plane (737-330 N302KH, msn 27905) currently in its initial maintenance check, and scheduled to be delivered to Honolulu during the third quarter of this year – enhancing the carrier’s fleet mix to two Boeing 737-300s, two Boeing 737-200s, and three SAAB 340A turboprops.

The Boeing 737-300 boasts nine full cargo positions totaling upwards of 39,000 lbs of payload capacity; that is two positions and nearly 10,000 lbs more than its sister aircraft, the Boeing 737-200 that Aloha currently flies. With ETOPS (Extended Range Twin Operations) capability, more fuel efficient and quieter engines, and a greatly reduced environmental footprint, the airframe is superior in every way.

“Our current fleet of four Boeing 737-200 aircraft has served Aloha and our predecessor very well over the last several decades, but timing is key to begin transitioning to a newer airframe,” said Pat Rosa, Chief Operating Officer for Aloha Air Cargo. “We are excited to invest in the future of our company and its employees by adding the 737-300s to our fleet. With this addition, Aloha Air Cargo will continue to build upon its 30 year history for providing safe and reliable cargo services to our communities in Hawaii and beyond.”

Aloha Air Cargo delivers fast, economical and reliable transport of goods between the Hawaiian Islands of Oahu, Maui, Kauai and the Island of Hawaii. It became an independent cargo operator after the closure of Aloha Airlines passenger services in May 2008. Aloha Tech Ops is a division of Aloha Air Cargo and provides maintenance and engineering services to airlines in the State of Hawaii.

Aloha Air Cargo is owned by Seattle-based Saltchuk, which has been doing business in Hawaii since 2000 when it acquired Young Brothers/Hawaiian Tug & Barge. Committed to the welfare of Hawaii and strengthening the local economy, the company also acquired Hawaii Fuel Network, Maui Petroleum and Minit Stop Stores in 2006.

Copyright Photos: Aloha Air Cargo. Kahu Kordell Kekoa blessing the plane’s name: Kū Ha’aheo (meaning “to stand tall with unselfish pride”).

Aloha Air Cargo:

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‘Ohana by Hawaiian to expand into Maui

‘Ohana by Hawaiian (Hawaiian Airlines) (Honolulu) has announced it will be expanding its route network for the summer to include Maui, connecting more islands and offering kama’āina (residents) and visitors more options and more flexibility for neighbor island travel.

According to the airline, beginning this July, Hawai’i’s newest turboprop operation will offer daily flights between Kahului, Maui (OGG) and Moloka’i (MKK); Kahului and Kona, Hawai’i Island (KOA); and Kahului and Hilo (ITO). Also announced is an additional flight between Honolulu and Moloka’i which will also operate for the summer period, increasing its existing service from thrice daily to four times daily between the two islands.

‘Ohana by Hawaiian operates its flights using 48-seat ATR 42 aircraft with a special livery designed by Hilo-based artist Sig Zane and his son Kūha’o, who both used Hawaiian Airlines’ interisland route map as inspiration for the design, weaving three kapa patterns: piko (navel), representing ancestry and progeny; manu (bird), representing both a bird in flight and the prow of a canoe, the traditional form of migration; and kalo (taro), representing family. The ATR 42 aircraft are named after a significant wind on each of the islands that ‘Ohana by Hawaiian will serve: Holo Kaomi of Paomaʻi, Lāna’i; Kaiāulu of Wai’anae, O’ahu; and Hikipua of Hālawa, Moloka’i.

‘Ohana by Hawaiian:

Air Canada to convert more leisure routes to Air Canada rouge

Air Canada (Montreal) has announced that its leisure carrier subsidiary, Air Canada rouge (Toronto-Pearson), is expanding service to Hawaii with the introduction of new year-round nonstop flights between Toronto and Honolulu. The new route, offering the only nonstop service between Toronto and Hawaii, will begin on November 26, 2014. Flights will be operated using Air Canada rouge Boeing 767-300 ER aircraft offering a choice of two cabins with three choices of service, personal space and comfort.

In addition, Air Canada announced that existing year-round nonstop service from Vancouver to Honolulu and Maui, currently operated by Air Canada, will be converted to daily Air Canada rouge Boeing 767-300 ER service effective on November 21 and December 1, 2014, respectively.

As part of its Air Canada rouge winter schedule to Caribbean destinations, twice-weekly seasonal service from Toronto to St. Maarten, previously operated by Air Canada, will be converted to Air Canada rouge Boeing 767-300ER service effective on December 20.

Air Canada will continue to evaluate future market opportunities as new aircraft are introduced into its mainline fleet and existing aircraft are released for operation by Air Canada rouge as market demand warrants. Since the launch in July 2013 of Air Canada rouge, Air Canada has deployed its leisure carrier to a growing number of Caribbean, European and select sun destinations in the United States.

With the addition of the Hawaii and St. Maarten routes, together with its previously announced summer 2014 schedule to Europe, the Caribbean and the United States, Air Canada rouge plans to operate a total of 58 routes by next winter, including service this summer to Barcelona, Dublin, Lisbon, Manchester, Nice and Rome.

Air Canada rouge’s aircraft feature three customer comfort options: rougeTM, rouge PlusTM with preferred seating with additional legroom, and Premium rougeTM with additional space and enhanced service on the Boeing 767-300 ER and on select Airbus A319 routes. Air Canada rouge offers a unique brand of customer service designed to make every flight a memorable start and end to a wonderful vacation. Aircraft are equipped with player, a next generation in-flight entertainment system that wirelessly streams entertainment to customers’ personal electronic devices. Flights provide stylish and modern cabin interiors with new Slimline seats which have a trim profile that offers more personal space, and the ability to earn and redeem Aeroplan miles.

Air Canada rouge operates a fleet consisting of Boeing 767-300 ER and Airbus A319 aircraft transferred from Air Canada. By the end of May 2014, Air Canada rouge’s fleet will include six Boeing 767-300 ER aircraft and 18 Airbus A319 aircraft.

Air Canada’s mainline fleet renewal is ongoing with the introduction of new aircraft. In May, the airline took delivery of its first 787 Dreamliner and is scheduled to receive a total of six 787 aircraft in 2014 with the remaining 31 scheduled between 2015 and 2019. In February 2014, Air Canada took delivery of the last of five new Boeing 777-300 ER aircraft to enter its mainline fleet.

Copyright Photo: TMK Photography/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 767-333 ER C-FMWV (msn 25586) arrives back at the Toronto (Pearson) hub.

Air Canada:

Air Canada rouge:

Hawaiian Holdings reduces its first quarter net loss to $5.1 million

Hawaiian Holdings, Inc. (Honolulu), parent company of Hawaiian Airlines, Inc. (Honolulu), today reported its financial results for the first quarter of 2014.
Operating income grew to $10.0 million in the first quarter compared to an operating loss of $11.9 million in the prior year period.

GAAP net loss in the first quarter of $5.1 million or $(0.10) per diluted share compared to a loss of $17.1 million in the prior year period or $(0.33) per diluted share.

Adjusted net loss, reflecting economic fuel expense, in the first quarter of $0.9 million or $(0.02) per diluted share compared to $14.8 million in the prior year period or $(0.29) per diluted share.

Unrestricted cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments of $479 million compared to $438 million in the prior year period.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

As of March 31, 2014 the Company had:

Unrestricted cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments of $479 million.

Available borrowing capacity of $69.5 million under Hawaiian’s Revolving Credit Facility.

Outstanding debt and capital lease obligations of approximately $940 million consisting of the following:

$570 million outstanding under secured loan agreements to finance a portion of the purchase price for nine Airbus A330-200 aircraft.

$150 million outstanding under secured loan agreements to finance a portion of the purchase price for 15 Boeing 717-200 aircraft.

$108 million in capital lease obligations to finance the acquisition of an Airbus A330-200, two Boeing 717-200 aircraft and aircraft-related equipment.

$34 million outstanding under floating rate notes for two Boeing 767-300 ER aircraft (above).

$78 million of outstanding Convertible Senior Notes.

Hawaiian Airlines:

A 16-year boy survives a flight from San Jose to Honolulu in the wheel well!

A 16-year old boy somehow survived a 5 and a half hour flight from San Jose, California to Honolulu, Hawaii. The boy from Santa Clara, California hopped the fence at Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC) and climbed into the wheel well of a Hawaiian Airlines (Honolulu) Boeing 767-300 departing for Honolulu. Running away from home according to ABC News, the boy somehow survived the long flight and the color temperatures. The airliner was flying over the Pacific Ocean at 38,000 feet. On arrival at HNL, he jumped down and started walking around the tarmac!

Read the full report: CLICK HERE

Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 767-3CB ER N592HA (msn 33468) of Hawaiian Airlines taxies to the runway at Seattle/Tacoma.

Hawaiian Airlines:

Hawaiian and Air China sign a codeshare agreement

Hawaiian Airlines (Honolulu) has announced the signing of a codeshare agreement with Air China (Beijing), China’s exclusive national flag carrier, that leverages the reach of their respective hubs in Honolulu and Beijing to offer more options and a more streamlined experience for customers traveling to further destinations. The new partnership takes effect following Hawaiian’s launch of its three-times weekly nonstop service to Beijing on April 16.

Top Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 767-33A N591HA (msn 33423) approaches the runway at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).

Hawaiian Airlines:

Air China:

Bottom Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 777-39L ER B-2033 (msn 38673) arrives at the Beijing hub.

Hawaiian launches its new route to Beijing today

Hawaiian Airlines (Honolulu) reached a new milestone today as it launched three-times weekly nonstop service to Beijing, the latest addition to its expanded international network and first mainland China destination.

Hawaiian Airlines launched inaugural service between Honolulu and Beijing, the airlines first destination in mainland China.

The departure of Flight HA 897 was preceded by festivities at the boarding gate at Honolulu International Airport (HNL) that included Hawaiian music and hula, a Chinese cultural fan dance performance by Phoenix Dance Chamber (below), a traditional Hawaiian blessing and presentation of lei to more than 200 passengers boarding the inaugural flight.

Remarks were given by Peter Ingram, Hawaiian Airlines executive vice president and chief commercial officer; Mike McCartney, Hawai’i Tourism Authority (HTA) president and chief executive officer; and Vice-Consul General Lixin Bian and Assistant Consul General Shousheng Zhao, both of the Consulate General of People’s Republic of China in Los Angeles.

Hawaiian Airlines’ new nonstop service between Honolulu and Beijing will add nearly 50,000 seats to both travel markets. According to HTA, the state’s official tourism agency, Hawai’i welcomed more than 132,000 visitors from China in 2013, and projects an increase of 37 percent in 2014. In addition, the China market is the highest spending visitor market with an average of $397 per person per day spending.

Starting today, Hawaiian Airlines operates three flights a week between Honolulu and Beijing using a 294-seat A330-200 aircraft. Flight HA 897 departs HNL at 12:01 a.m. every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, crosses the international dateline, and lands at Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) at 5:55 a.m. the following day.

Return flight HA 898 departs Beijing at 1:05 a.m. every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, crosses the international dateline, and arrives in Honolulu at 4:40 p.m. the previous day (Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday).

As a full-service leisure carrier, Hawaiian Airlines provides all of its passengers between Beijing and Hawai’i with complimentary meals, drinks and blankets, as well as selected in-seat video entertainment on its A330 aircraft.

Top Copyright Photo: Wingnut/AirlinersGallery.com (all others by Hawaiian Airlines). This dramatic image shows Hawaiian’s Airbus A330-243 N384HA (msn 1259) lifting off the runway at Los Angeles International Airport.

Hawaiian Airlines:

Spring Airlines Japan to launch operations on June 27

Spring Airlines Japan (Tokyo-Narita) has announced it will commence scheduled passenger operations on June 27. The new airline was established in October 2012. The airline is 33 percent owned by Spring Airlines, a Chinese low-cost carrier, with the remainder held by various Japanese investors.

The first routes will be to Hiroshima, Saga and Takamatsu with three Boeing 737-800s per ZipanguFlyer.

Read the full story: CLICK HERE

Copyright Photo: Ivan K. Nishimura/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 737-86N JA03GR (msn 41272) passed through Honolulu on delivery.

Mokulele Airlines adds Honolulu-Kahului, Maui flights on April 1

Mokulele Airlines (Kona, Hawaii) began offering nonstop flights between Kahului, Maui and Honolulu on April 1 as part of its expansion plans for 2014. This summer, Mokulele will also begin offering service from Kalaeloa Airport on O’ahu which is located at the former Barber’s Point Naval Air Base John Rogers Field. To meet these expanding flight schedules, Mokulele is adding three new Cessna Grand Caravan aircraft to its fleet.

Mokulele is also reassuring the public that it is separate from go! Airlines and is still operating despite the shutdown of go! on April 1. In 2011, Mokulele’s parent company, TransPac Aviation, purchased the turbo prop division of Mesa Air Group, the operator of go! Airlines. Since that time, Mokulele and go! have operated as two separate airlines, which is why Mokulele flight operations are not being affected by go!’s April 1 shutdown.

Copyright Photo: Ivan K. Nishimura/AirlinersGallery.com. Cessna 208B Grand Caravan N841MA (msn 1084) “Spirit of Kona” waits for the next assignment at Honolulu International Airport (HNL).

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Jetstar Airways announces new Brisbane-Honolulu flights starting on December 15

Jetstar Airways (Australia) (Melbourne) has announced new nonstop service between Brisbane and Honolulu starting on December 15, 2014.

The route will be operated by Airbus A330 aircraft up to three times a week during the peak season with two weekly services in the off peak.

The new Honolulu route will be the second wide body service from Brisbane following the start of nonstop services to Bali later this month to be operated by the Boeing 787 Dreamliner.

Flights will depart from Brisbane on Tuesdays and Fridays with services operating from Honolulu on Mondays and Thursdays.

The third service for peak season will operate on a Sunday. The route will eventually be operated by the Boeing 787 Dreamliner as Jetstar continues to take delivery of more aircraft.

Jetstar Airways: