Airlines had a rough start at the beginning of the year, but Hawaiian Airlines has done very well for itself. With its success, Hawaiian Airlines is looking to the east coast to expand and give customers an easier way to access the island state.
According to USA Today, Hawaiian Airlines just started to come back from bankruptcy in 2005 by expanding their routes. It has since had growing success. During the first quarter this year, the airline made a $7.3 million profit, a whopping increase from the $855,000 it made during the same time in 2011.
Hawaiian Airlines is taking advantage of new opportunities. In recent years, its competitor, Aloha Airlines was put out of business and there has been a reduction in service to Hawaii from other airlines. Now Hawaiian Airlines is looking to make an even greater impact on U.S. aviation and trying to its name out there.
Hawaiian Airlines wants to focus on USA's biggest market, New York. To do so, they are partnering with Jet Blue through a code-share agreement. This will be Hawaiiain Airlines first major East Coast market, offering non-stop flights from JFK International Airport in New York to Honolulu.
This will be the only non-stop service between New York and Hawaii with daily flights from JetBlue's terminal at JFK to Honolulu International Airport. Currently, the only airlines that have a similar trip are Continental Airlines and United Airlines, but their non-stop flights leave from Newark, New Jersey. Hawaiian Airlines will be the first to offer direct service to New York City.
Robert Mann, founder of airline consulting firm R.W. Mann told USA Today, "This is a major investment for them. This, I would say, is a much riskier proposition."
Hawaiian Airlines will have to compete with United and Continental Airlines and airlines that offer access to closer beach vacation destinations like Mexico or the Caribbean, as the flight to Hawaii can be a long 10 hours for East coast travelers.
If this project is successful, Hawaiian Airlines will have the opportunity to expand to other East Coast destinations that JetBlue is connected to like Boston.
Mark Dunkerley, Hawaiian's president and chief executive officer, told USA Today that s the airline is "taking the approach of one at a time." "Our first priority is to make New York a success," he says.
