Hawaiian Airlines to launch Flights to Manila

Hawaiian Airlines is planning to launch flights between Honolulu and Manila in the Philippines in March 2008. The flights are subject to U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) approval.

Mark Dunkerley, Hawaiian’s president and CEO, said, “We see tremendous opportunity to increase travel on this route in light of the deep historical and cultural ties Hawaii has to the Philippines, Manila’s large population of over 10 million people, its growing international business sector and substantial middle class with the inclination and means to travel.”

Hawaiian plans to start service with four or more flights per week, which will more than double current capacity on the nonstop route and enable significant growth in traffic. Hawaiian’s research shows that approximately 170,000 people traveled between Manila and Hawaii during the past year.

Hawaiian will operate the new route using its wide-body, twin-aisle Boeing 767-300ER aircraft that seat up to 264 passengers. Earlier this year, Hawaiian added four Boeing 767 aircraft to its transpacific fleet.

“Hawaiian has grown in 2007 faster than any other airline in the U.S. We serve more mainland destinations on a nonstop basis than any other airline, and we’re thrilled to be expanding our international operations into Asia with new nonstop service to Manila,” Dunkerley added.

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