Hawaiian Airlines ignites Revival in Australian Visits to Hawaii

Hawaiian Airlines today welcomed new figures from the Hawaii State Government, which reveal significant growth in tourist arrivals from Australia following the airline’s commencement of Sydney-Honolulu flights in May last year.

The figures show an increase of 48 per cent in the number of Australians visiting Hawaii in the 11 months to the end of November, 2004.

By comparison, the total increase in international visitor arrivals in Hawaii during the same period was 12.5 per cent.

Monthly visitor arrivals from Australia peaked at just under 12,000 in the month of September, 2004, during Australian school holidays – a rise of 50 per cent over the 8,000 visitors for the same period in 2003.

The latest figures do not take into account the peak Christmas – New Year period in 2004/2005, which is expected to show even higher growth, compared with the same time in 2003.

“Hawaii has always been a favourite destination for Australians, but a lack of airline access in the past decade has made it a real challenge to get there,” said Hawaiian Airlines President and Chief Operating Officer Mr Mark Dunkerley.

“I’m proud to say that we were the catalyst for a chain of activities which put Hawaii back on the map when we announced in January, 2003, our intention to introduce four non-stop flights per week between Sydney and Honolulu,” said Mr Dunkerley.

“With strong support from travel agents, wholesalers and Hawaii Tourism Oceania, and with a series of very competitive air fares and holiday packages, we have reignited public interest in Hawaii - and with the strong Australian dollar, currently nearing US 80 cents, interest in Hawaii remains solid.

“There are now more flights, more convenient schedules and more competitive prices from Australia to Hawaii than there were before we announced our plans – proof that competition works,” said Mr Dunkerley.

“An increasing nummber of customers is now walking into travel agencies throughout Australia and asking specifically for holidays to Hawaii. Together with the Australian travel industry, our task now is to continue building this market with a mix of new visitors and repeat customers.”

Hawaiian Airlines operates four Boeing 767-300ER flights per week from Sydney to Honolulu on Oahu, with onward connections to Hawaii’s neighbour islands and the US mainland.

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