Hawaiian carries over half a million guests between Seoul and Honolulu as South Korean visitors to Hawai'i more than double.
HONOLULU – Hawaiian Airlines this month celebrates its fifth anniversary of successful service between O’ahu’s Honolulu International Airport (HNL) and its first destination on the Asian continent: Seoul, South Korea. Since launching its four times weekly service on Jan. 12, 2011, Hawaiian has operated more than 2,800 flights and carried nearly 600,000 guests between Honolulu and Incheon International Airport (ICN).
“Korean tourism to Hawai’i has more than doubled since we started service, and flights to Seoul continue to be a vital and important part of our network,” said Mark Dunkerley, president and chief executive officer of Hawaiian Airlines. “Travelers appreciate our value-for-money offerings, including free checked luggage, premium inflight amenities and the authentic Hawaiian hospitality delivered to every guest. Our employees embody the culture and inherent beauty of our island home, and proudly share the transformative sights, sounds and taste of Hawai’i the moment you step onboard.”
Before Hawaiian’s entry, the Korean market had long been underserved. In 2010, Hawaii received only 81,758 visitors from South Korea, compared to 178,091 visiting Hawaii in 2014. Following strong demand from both U.S. and Korean travelers, Hawaiian up-gauged its service to Seoul in the spring of 2014 from a Boeing 767-300ER to the larger A330 aircraft, seating 294 passengers in a three-class cabin, with 18 in First Class, 40 in Extra Comfort and 236 in the Main Cabin. Operating the larger A330 aircraft added more than 18,300 seats annually to both travel markets. Hawaiian now offers non-stop flights five days a week.
Hawaiian Airlines’ A330 offers popular amenities including personal high-resolution LCD touch-screen monitors in each seatback, increased legroom, and a roomy interior. The A330’s state-of-the-art entertainment system lets customers choose from a wide range of movies, with at least three new Korean-produced selections; TV programs; music; and video games; while also offering a USB port for the use of their own personal media players.
Starting next summer, Hawaiian will further enhance the travel experience aboard the A330 by introducing 180-degree lie-flat seats and adding 28 more Extra Comfort seats for a total of 68. Extra Comfort features five more inches of legroom; priority boarding at the gate; complimentary on-demand in-seat entertainment; and a personal power outlet. The first newly outfitted aircraft will enter Hawaiian’s long-haul network in the second quarter of 2016.
Hawaiian’ signature inflight hospitality celebrates the culture, people and Aloha Spirit of the Hawaiian Islands. As part of its Korea service, Hawaiian offers guests Nongshim noodles as a mid-flight snack and Gochujang (a popular hot pepper paste) as a condiment during the complimentary meal service in all cabins.
To commemorate its 5th anniversary in Seoul, Hawaiian Airlines is offering South Korean residents a chance to win two (2) roundtrip tickets to Honolulu by sharing their own #MyAloha story on the company’s official Facebook page.
Vicky is the co-founder of TravelDailyNews Media Network where she is the Editor-in Chief. She is also responsible for the daily operation and the financial policy. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Tourism Business Administration from the Technical University of Athens and a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Wales.
She has many years of both academic and industrial experience within the travel industry. She has written/edited numerous articles in various tourism magazines.
