Hawaiian Airlines Launches Non-Stop Flights to Taipei

Hawaiian Airlines has launched non-stop flights to Taipei, Taiwan, its seventh Asian destination.

Hawaiian Airlines will operate three flights a week between Honolulu and Taipei using a 294-seat A330-200 aircraft.

Flight HA 807 departs Honolulu International Airport at 01:55 every Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday, crosses the international dateline, and lands at Taipei International Airport at 06:15 the following day.

The return Flight HA 808 departs Taipei at 20:55 on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, crosses the international dateline, and arrives in Honolulu at 13:10 the same day.

"The demand for service to Hawai'i from the Taiwan market has been growing and we are delighted to respond to the strong interest by delivering our new non-stop service to and from Taipei," said Mark Dunkerley, Hawaiian Airlines president and CEO. "The Hawaiian Islands are the ideal midpoint destination, perfectly situated to offer dual-destination trips with easy connections between Taipei and our 11 gateways in the U.S."

The U.S. Visa Waiver Program was recently expanded to cover citizens of Taiwan.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie, said, "The historical and cultural ties between Hawai'i and Taiwan continue to be strong as we celebrate the 20th anniversary of our sister-state relationship. I congratulate Hawaiian Airlines for capitalizing on Taiwan's entrance into the Visa Waiver Program with new air service that will strengthen our connection with Taiwan. This service will create new business opportunities, and allow our friends in Taiwan to enjoy the beauty of Hawai'i and our families here to explore the abundant scenic attractions available in Taiwan."

Hawai'i hosted nearly 10,000 visitors from Taiwan in 2012, according to the Hawai'i Tourism Authority (HTA), which expects arrival numbers to grow substantially with Visa restrictions lifted.