HONOLULU –- Hawaiian Airlines announced that Gary McKoy, a 15-year employee of the airline, has been appointed station manager of its Sydney operations.
McKoy comes well prepared to handle this new role for Hawaiian, having been the assistant station manager for Sydney since April 2004. In addition, he has accumulated a wide variety of service experience for Hawaiian involving in-flight, ground handling, and customer relations. He earned his newest appointment through Hawaiian's Station Manager Pool, an internal recruitment program that is developing leaders within the company.
“No matter what's asked of him, Gary has proven time and again he is the right person to do the job for Hawaiian,” said Blaine Miyasato, Hawaiian's vice president of customer services. “He's a great fit to lead our Sydney operations and give customers the very best in service.”
A trained flight attendant, McKoy has accepted assignments throughout his career at Hawaiian that have broadened his knowledge and operational experience. Especially valuable for his new position was a six-month tenure as project manager to launch Hawaiian's San Diego-Honolulu route in 2001. Other work experiences at Hawaiian include being an interpreter for French-speaking passengers from Tahiti; supervising 70 Los Angeles-based flight attendants; developing the onboard service for the Boeing 767-300 aircraft; and coordinating ground-handling services of Hawaiian's charter flights for the Oakland Raiders throughout the mainland, and for the Military Airlift Command in Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Europe.
McKoy is a 1983 graduate of North Carolina State University, earning his Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Economics. He moved to Hawaii in 1985. Scouted and hired by the University of Hawaii's Athletic Department, McKoy led its inter-collegiate cheer squad to national rankings and recognition. In 1989, he was named Hawaii's “Aerobic Athlete of the Year” by Nanatomi Corporation and the American College of Sports Medicine.
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.