Hawaiian Airlines Celebrates Second Year Anniversary of Direct China-Hawaii Flights

Carrier shares authentic Hawaiian hospitality with over 100,000 guests between Beijing and Honolulu
HA logo_carousel

BEIJING -- Hawaiian Airlines is entering its third year of nonstop flights between Beijing, China and Honolulu, Hawai’i with plans for enhanced marketing programs and cabin amenities, airline officials said today. Hawai’i’s largest and longest-serving airline discussed its success and future plans at a news conference in Beijing celebrating the second anniversary of three-times weekly flights inaugurated on April 16, 2014.

Since launching service Hawaiian has shared its signature hospitality with more than 100,000 guests on over 600 flights between Beijing Capital International and Honolulu International airports.

“The past two years represented the beginning of a new era of safe, comfortable and convenient air travel between Honolulu and China’s capital, Beijing,” said Liwei Kimura, regional director and chief representative for Greater China at Hawaiian Airlines. “Over the next year, Hawaiian Airlines will build on its success to widen its reach across the country, striving to introduce more Chinese travelers to our authentic Hawaiian hospitality and the beauty and wonder of Hawaii.”

Hawaiian Airlines’ Beijing-Honolulu service is operated by its wide-body, 294-seat Airbus A330-200 aircraft, which are being equipped with 180-degree lie-flat seats starting this year. Earlier this year, Hawaiian Airlines kicked off a fully-integrated, 360-degree ‘Fly with Aloha’ campaign centered on an engaging video introducing Chinese audiences to the unique and authentic Aloha Spirit of warmth and hospitality that informs every element of the carrier’s brand.

Launched through social media in January, the video has already garnered over 400,000 views. A series of offline activation events at office buildings throughout Beijing in April, meanwhile, generated huge buzz with the video playing around 10 million times on more than 11,200 screens across the capital.

Hawaiian Airlines drew attention to the campaign by inviting thousands of users of Mafengwo, one of China’s top online travel communities, to follow well-known Chinese travelers as they traveled to Hawaii to discover the origin of the Aloha Spirit for themselves. Users of the site were able to read live updates from these key opinion leaders as they completed a number of daily challenges ranging from learning to hula to cooking one of Hawaiian Airlines’ inflight meals under the guidance of its Executive Chef, Chai Chaowasaree.
 

“From the moment I boarded the flight, I felt the unmistakable allure of Hawaii and the Aloha spirit so deeply rooted in Hawaiian Airlines’ culture. It was great learning to hula dance from a flight attendant and experiencing Hawaiian’s authentic in-flight service and hospitality. They’re so enthusiastic and kind,” said ZhenMeiQu, a famous traveler on the "GO! ALOHA!” trip jointly launched by Hawaiian Airlines and Mafengwo.

Another influential travel writer, Super Baozi, also shared his exciting experience, saying, "I learned to make cocktails, roast coffee and play the ukulele, and even make in-flight meals with Chef Chai Chaowasaree from Hawaiian Airlines. I especially won’t forget the food and wine, Hawaii itself and the Aloha spirit of the locals. Hawaiian Airlines embraces the Aloha spirit of kindness, love and passion in their culture and service. We felt so comfortable and happy flying with Hawaiian Airlines."

Visitor arrival numbers compiled by the Hawai’i Tourism Authority suggest Hawaiian Airlines’ Beijing to Honolulu route has contributed significantly in recent years to a sharp rise in the number of Chinese tourists traveling to Hawaii. In the first year of the route’s operation, the number of visitors from China grew 29.1 percent, a trend that continued in 2015 with a further 12.4 percent growth. It is estimated Hawaiian’s service generated approximately $100 million for the local economy in direct visitor spending during the period.
 

“Congratulations and mahalo to Hawaiian Airlines for two years of success with its Beijing-Honolulu route,” said George D. Szigeti, president and CEO of the Hawaii Tourism Authority. “Nonstop service is key to increasing Hawaii’s share of China’s travel market and Hawaiian is certainly doing its part. Hawaiian’s Beijing service is supporting the diversified growth of tourism in Hawaii, and its brand of onboard hospitality reinforces the unmatched Aloha Spirit that makes a visit so enjoyable.”

Hawaiian Airlines welcomes guests with its signature Mea Ho‘okipa (translation: ‘I am Host’) on-board service, immersing them in a warm and friendly celebration of the culture, people, and Aloha Spirit of the Hawaiian Islands. Personalizing the experience to Chinese tastes, inflight meals include a range of Chinese-inspired Hawaiian fusion cuisine prepared by one of the Pacific Rim’s leading chefs.

The comfort, roominess and amenities of the Hawaiian Airlines’ A330 aircraft adds to the enjoyment of the customer travel experience. With high-resolution LCD touch-screen monitors in each seatback, the A330’s state-of-the-art entertainment system offers complimentary premium content on all of Hawaiian’s international routes, allowing customers to choose from a wide range of movies, TV programs, music and video games, while also offering a USB port to charge their personal devices.

International business class customers traveling through Honolulu can also relax in style with complimentary access to Hawaiian Airlines’ luxurious 3,600 square-foot Plumeria Lounge.

Hawaiian customers flying to Beijing from any of its 11 gateway cities in North America (New York, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose, Sacramento, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Portland, Seattle) can also take advantage of free stopovers in Hawaii, giving them added flexibility and convenience when experience the best Hawaii has to offer.

About Hawaiian Airlines
Hawaiian® has led all U.S. carriers in on-time performance for each of the past 12 years (2004-2015) as reported by the U.S. Department of Transportation. Consumer surveys by Condé Nast Traveler, Travel + Leisure and Zagat have all ranked Hawaiian the highest of all domestic airlines serving Hawai‘i.
 

Now in its 87th year of continuous service, Hawaiian is Hawai‘i’s biggest and longest-serving airline, as well as the largest provider of passenger air service from its primary visitor markets on the U.S. Mainland. Hawaiian offers non-stop service to Hawai‘i from more U.S. gateway cities (11) than any other airline, along with service from Japan, South Korea, China, Australia, New Zealand, American Samoa and Tahiti. Hawaiian also provides approximately 160 jet flights daily between the Hawaiian Islands, with a total of more than 200 daily flights system-wide.

Hawaiian Airlines, Inc. is a subsidiary of Hawaiian Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: HA). Additional information is available at HawaiianAirlines.com. Follow updates on Twitter about Hawaiian (@HawaiianAir) and become a fan on its Facebook page.

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