Concurrently, the company elevated Executive Vice President - Operations and Service Robert W. Zoller to the position of President and Chief Operating Officer.
Adams said, "Hawaiian is at a pivotal point in its history. The integration of the new 717 interisland aircraft fleet, evaluation of long-range aircraft, route development and achievement of satisfactory profitability present unprecedented management challenges. These changes will allow Casey to focus more of his time on long-term strategies and goals for the airline. We are fortunate to have in Zoller an airline professional with the depth of experience to assume a broader role in the day-to-day operations of the airline."
In addition to his strategic planning responsibilities, Casey will have reporting to him the functions of human resources, marketing and sales, and public relations. Zoller will add the finance and legal functions to those of flight operations, maintenance, and customer services, which he presently oversees.
Casey joined Hawaiian as President and CEO in April 1997. Since his arrival, the company's revenues have increased by nearly 21 percent from $404.2 million in 1997 to $488.9 million in 1999, a positive trend that continued in 2000. During the same period, Hawaiian increased flight operations by nearly 30 percent, added five aircraft to its fleet and hired nearly 700 additional employees. The company carried 20.1 percent more passengers in 2000 than it did in 1997 with an increase in load factor of 1.6 percentage points.
Casey spearheaded Hawaiian's interisland fleet renewal program, resulting in the company's largest investment in history - a transaction valued at $430 million to purchase 13 new Boeing 717-200 aircraft with options on seven additional planes - to completely replace Hawaiian's current interisland fleet of McDonnell Douglas DC-9 aircraft. He continues to lead the company's plans to renew its long-range widebody fleet of McDonnell Douglas DC-10s as well as directing negotiations with the company's principal unions toward new contracts.
Zoller, who oversaw the integration of 717 aircraft at AirTran, Boeing's first customer for the new jet, joined Hawaiian on December 1, 1999 as Executive Vice President - Operations and Service. He has led the company's fleet transition team in planning and managing the integration of 717s into Hawaiian's operations. He is also integral to the company's widebody fleet planning and will lead another transition when the company chooses a successor to its DC-10 aircraft.
Casey said, "Our business continues to grow in size and complexity. In 2001, we face continued challenges in higher fuel prices, a softening U.S. economy, union negotiations and the all-encompassing process of replacing our fleet of aircraft. Bob's deep experience in running the day-to-day operations of an airline gives me confidence that we will successfully manage these challenges while maintaining the highest level of customer service as we continue the process of designing Hawaiian's future."
In December 2000, Hawaiian Airlines was bestowed the Onboard Services' Diamond Award, its highest honor, for outstanding design and execution in In-Flight Services. Now in its 71st year of service, Hawaiian is Hawaii's longest-serving and largest airline. The nation's 12th largest carrier, it operates an all-jet fleet of 14 narrowbody DC-9 and 15 widebody DC-10 aircraft. Hawaiian provides award-winning service on 175 flights a day among the islands of Hawaii, to five cities on the U.S. mainland and two destinations in the South Pacific. Additional information on Hawaiian Airlines is available on the airline's Web site at www.hawaiianair.com.