DOT: Hawaiian Starts 2005 On Top for Service

Not just #1 for Punctuality, but also for Baggage Handling and Fewest Flights Cancelled

HONOLULU –- Last year, Hawaiian Airlines established itself as America's best airline for service as measured by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT).

The DOT issued its January Air Travel Consumer Report, showing that Hawaii's biggest and longest-serving airline has picked up in 2005 right where it left off.

Hawaiian recorded the industry's top marks for punctuality, baggage handling, and fewest flights cancelled in January, along with the fourth-best ranking for fewest consumer complaints.

Joshua Gotbaum, Hawaiian's Trustee, stated, “We're glad DOT confirmed Hawaiian's superior service, but what's terrific is that the best keeps getting better: Hawaiian Airlines, which introduced Web Check-In and BaggageDirect mobile skycap service, just two days ago ended waiting in line for interisland service. Hawaiian continues to perfect the art of hassle-free travel.”

Hawaiian's 92.6 percent on-time performance for January led all carriers nationwide for an amazing 15th consecutive month. Hawaiian's record of punctuality was a whopping 21.2 percentage points above the industry average of 71.4 percent. According to DOT standards, on-time service requires a flight to arrive within 15 minutes of schedule.

In addition, Hawaiian topped all carriers with its excellence in handling customers' luggage, recording only 2.72 mishandled baggage reports for every 1,000 passengers.

Hawaiian also had the best record for flight cancellations, with an industry-low 0.5 percent out of 3,928 total flights.

The DOT reported only three consumer complaints about Hawaiian, resulting in the industry's fourth-best score of 0.68 percent for every 100,000 passengers.

The DOT report covers 19 airlines, including seven carriers providing service to Hawaii. The full report is available online at http://airconsumer.ost.dot.gov/reports/atcr05.htm.

About Hawaiian Airlines

Hawaiian Airlines, the nation's number one on-time carrier, is recognized as one of the best airlines in America. Readers of two prominent national travel magazines, Condé Nast Traveler and Travel + Leisure, have both rated Hawaiian as the top domestic airline serving Hawaii in their most recent rankings, and the fifth best domestic airline overall.

Celebrating its 76th year of continuous service, Hawaiian is Hawaii's biggest and longest-serving airline, and the second largest provider of passenger air service between Hawaii and the U.S. mainland. Hawaiian offers nonstop service to Hawaii from more U.S. gateway cities than any other airline. Hawaiian also provides approximately 100 daily jet flights among the Hawaiian Islands, as well as service to Australia, American Samoa and Tahiti.

Hawaiian Airlines, Inc. is a subsidiary of Hawaiian Holdings, Inc. (AMEX and PCX: HA). Since the appointment of a bankruptcy trustee in May 2003, Hawaiian Holdings has had no responsibility for the management of Hawaiian Airlines and has had limited access to information concerning the airline. Additional information is available at www.HawaiianAir.com.