Hawaiian Airlines Appoints Lokesh Amaranayaka as Vice President of Airport Operations

HONOLULU – Hawaiian Airlines today announced the appointment of Lokesh Amaranayaka as vice president of airport operations, effective April 1.

Lokesh Lei

Amaranayaka will oversee all passenger, ramp and contract service operations at airports across Hawaiian’s global network. He will be responsible for safety, performance and reliability, including on-time arrivals and departures, baggage handling and guest service and satisfaction.

“Lokesh’s people-oriented approach aligns with our company’s values, and his depth of airport knowledge will enable Hawaiian to continue offering the best Hawaiʻi travel experience to our guests worldwide,” said Jon Snook, chief operating officer at Hawaiian Airlines.

Amaranayaka joins Hawaiian after a 24-year career at American Airlines, where he started as a reservations agent and held numerous airport roles before leading the carrier’s expansive operations at Los Angeles International Airport. During his tenure, he also managed front-line operations at American’s Dallas headquarters and major airports, including John F. Kennedy International Airport, Dallas Fort Worth International Airport and Miami International Airport.

Amaranayaka is a McKinsey & Company’s Black Executive Leadership Program graduate and an alumnus of the Management Leadership for Tomorrow Career Advancement Program.


About Hawaiian Airlines

Now in its 94th year of continuous service, Hawaiian is Hawaiʻi's biggest and longest-serving airline. Hawaiian offers approximately 150 daily flights within the Hawaiian Islands, and nonstop flights between Hawaiʻi and 15 U.S. gateway cities – more than any other airline – as well as service connecting Honolulu and American Samoa, Australia, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea and Tahiti.

Consumer surveys by Condé Nast Traveler and TripAdvisor have placed Hawaiian among the top of all domestic airlines serving Hawaiʻi. In 2022, the carrier topped Travel + Leisure’s 2022 World’s Best list as the No. 1 U.S. airline and was named Hawaiʻi's best employer by Forbes. Hawaiian® led all U.S. carriers in on-time performance for 18 consecutive years (2004-2021) as reported by the U.S. Department of Transportation.

The airline is committed to connecting people with aloha by offering complimentary meals for all guests on transpacific routes and the convenience of no change fees on Main Cabin and Premium Cabin seats. HawaiianMiles members also enjoy flexibility with miles that never expire. As Hawai‘i’s hometown airline, Hawaiian encourages guests to Travel Pono and experience the islands safely and respectfully.

Hawaiian Airlines, Inc. is a subsidiary of Hawaiian Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: HA). Additional information is available at HawaiianAirlines.com. Follow Hawaiian’s Twitter updates (@HawaiianAir), become a fan on Facebook  (Hawaiian Airlines), and follow us on Instagram (hawaiianairlines). For career postings and updates, follow Hawaiian’s LinkedIn page.

For media inquiries, please visit Hawaiian Airlines’ online newsroom.


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