Flights between Japan and Hawaii represent a highly competitive market - around 1.5 million Japanese travel to Hawaii annually, with airlines enjoying consistently high load factors. ANA’s use of the Superjumbo on this route shows it is seeking to increase significantly its share of this lucrative market. It has even unveiled a colouful special livery for its first aircraft featuring the Hawaiian green sea turtle – a symbol of good luck and prosperity in Hawaii.
The approval from the US Department of Transportation (DOT) allows AirAsia X to operate services to any destination within the US market and it will now formalise its development plans to serve the market to coincide with the future delivery of new widebodied equipment. The airline is known to have been considering flights to several US states including Hawaii as part of its route expansion plans.
The new Dash 8 Q400s will introduce 14 additional seats versus the ATR 72 it will replace and Island Air's website says the aircraft will be fitted in a two-class arrangement with 64 Standard and 14 Premium seats. It will launch commercial operations with the type in January 2017.
With new and more fuel-efficient aircraft now able to fly direct from Europe, Hawaii is keen to build relationships with airlines to attract a new generation of travellers.
