Hawaiian Airlines is to become the only North American carrier to offer non-stop flights to the Australian city of Brisbane after confirming plans to launch a three times weekly service from Honolulu on November 27, 2012. The new flight will be operated with a Boeing 767-300ER aircraft, seating 262 passengers in a two-class cabin – 18 in Business Class and 244 in Economy Class – and will increase the carrier’s network in the country to ten weekly flights, complementing its existing daily link from Honolulu to Australia's largest city, Sydney.
According to Mark Dunkerley, President and Chief Executive Officer, Hawaiian Airlines, Brisbane will serve not only as a second unique gateway to Australia but also as an important new source of tourism to Hawai'i. “Australians love Hawai'i as a holiday destination, and visitor numbers have grown steadily since Hawaiian inaugurated service on the Sydney-Honolulu route in 2004. That service reawakened Australian awareness and interest in Hawai'i, which had been under-served for over a decade. Competitors followed us and now, eight years later, Hawai'i is one of the most popular and fastest growing international holiday destinations for travelers from Australia,” he said.
As Mark Dunkerley highlights, Hawaiian Airlines is not the only air carrier currently providing links between Honolulu and Australia. Qantas had historically served the route prior to the US carrier’s arrival but now its budget venture Jetstar Airways also offers flights between Sydney and Honolulu. Strategic Airlines also served Honolulu from both Melbourne and Brisbane for a limited period before its closure earlier this year.
Hawaiian's new Brisbane service will add more than 40,000 seats annually between Australia and Hawai'i, and increase its total seat numbers from Australia by 38 per cent. "The Brisbane gateway will provide much easier access to Hawai'i for residents of the State of Queensland, and more convenient connections for travellers from a number of other Australian states," added Mark Dunkerley.
An estimated 296,000 O&D passengers travelled between Honolulu and Australia in 2011, up almost a third (30.4 per cent) on the previous year and more than a half (59.8 per cent) on the figure recorded in 2006. Hawaiian Airlines is currently the second largest operator in this market with a 33.1 per cent share of the traffic, just behind Jetstar Airways, which holds 36.7 per cent of the estimated O&D passenger demand. An estimated 27,000 O&D passengers flew between Honolulu and Brisbane last year, around 22 per cent using the existing Sydney connection of Hawaiian Airlines and connecting domestically in Australia.
The direct Honolulu – Brisbane offering will certainly enhance connectivity to the Hawaiian Islands from Australia. Hawai'i continues to be a popular destination in Australia with arrivals for first quarter 2012 increasing 55 per cent over last year. “Hawaiian's starting of service between Brisbane and Honolulu is great news for our tourism economy,” said Mike McCartney, President and Chief Executive Officer, Hawai'i Tourism Authority (HTA). “We anticipate this flight to contribute to this continual growth and expansion, and wish Hawaiian success on this new route.” The HTA estimates that the flight will generate $83 million in visitor expenditures and $9 million in tax revenue annually for Hawai'i.
Centrally located on Australia's east coast, Brisbane is the capital city of the State of Queensland, home of the world-famous Great Barrier Reef, world heritage listed rainforests, iconic outback locations and the renowned leisure regions of the Gold and Sunshine Coasts. Brisbane also is a key hub for onward travel throughout Australia with same-day services throughout Queensland and to other states.
Brisbane Airport Corporation’s Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Julieanne Alroe has applauded the new link. “We celebrate partnerships with new airlines such as Hawaiian Airlines as they provide greater choice and convenience for passengers and global connectivity for Queensland. Three return weekly services between Brisbane and Honolulu is an excellent beginning and we’re confident travellers will quickly embrace the warm hospitality, convenient schedules and great product offering from Hawaiian Airlines,” she said.
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