Hawaiian Airlines Appoints Blaine Miyasato Vice President of Product Development

HONOLULU – May 21, 2010 - Hawaiian Airlines today announced the appointment of Blaine Miyasato to the new position of vice president of product development, effective June 15.

 

Miyasato, a 25-year employee of the company, will work in the marketing department and be responsible for directing the strategy behind Hawaiian’s marketing, advertising, promotions, brand management, and customer products offered inflight and at airports. Reporting to Glenn Taniguchi, Hawaiian’s senior vice president of marketing and sales, he will also continue to be Hawaiian’s principal liaison with the State of Hawaii for airport development.

 

“Blaine has led several key customer-oriented initiatives that have made Hawaiian Airlines a national leader in service and the favorite of Hawaii travelers,” said Mark Dunkerley, Hawaiian’s president and CEO. “His experience and ability to develop effective strategies will be vital to our marketing and promotional efforts as we continue to grow our company and expand our brand internationally.”

 

Most recently, Miyasato served as vice president of customer services in Hawaiian’s operations department. During that time, he directed a company task force to implement a series of operational improvements that has resulted in Hawaiian becoming the nation’s leader in on-time performance as well as one of the highest ranked carriers for baggage handling. He previously led the development of Hawaiian’s award-winning “Hawaii Starts Here” onboard service program highlighting Hawaii’s culture, music, and natural beauty.

 

Miyasato began his career at Hawaiian as a flight attendant in 1985. He was promoted to manager of product development in 1993 and thereafter was appointed to key management positions of increasing responsibility in the areas of product development, inflight services, and business process improvement.

 

 

About Hawaiian Airlines

 

Hawaiian is the nation’s highest-ranked carrier for service quality and performance in 2009 in the 20

th annual Airline Quality Rating study, having earned that distinction in three of the past four years. Hawaiian has also led all U.S. carriers in on-time performance for each of the past six years (2004-2009) and has been an industry leader in fewest misplaced bags during that same period (#1 from 2005-2007, #2 in 2008 and 2009) as reported by the U.S. Department of Transportation. Consumer surveys by Condé Nast Traveler, Travel + Leisure and Zagat have all ranked Hawaiian the top domestic airline offering flights to Hawaii.

 

Now in its 81st year of continuous service for Hawaii, Hawaiian is the state’s biggest and longest-serving airline, as well as the largest provider of passenger air service to Hawaii from the state’s primary visitor markets on the U.S. mainland. Hawaiian offers nonstop service to Hawaii from more U.S. gateway cities (10) than any other airline, as well as service to the Philippines, Australia, American Samoa, and Tahiti. Hawaiian also provides more than 150 daily jet flights between the Hawaiian Islands.

 

Hawaiian Airlines, Inc. is a subsidiary of Hawaiian Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: HA). Additional information is available at HawaiianAirlines.com.