Frequent Flyer Mileage Awards, Seamless Connections Highlight Customer Benefits
HONOLULU – Mar. 23, 2006 - Hawaiian Airlines (AMEX and PCX: HA) and Northwest Airlines today jointly announced that they have enhanced their longstanding marketing relationship by signing an exclusive interisland code share agreement for air travel within the state of Hawaii.
Northwest customers booking transpacific flights to Hawaii with connections to Kauai, Maui or Hawaii's Big Island will continue enjoying the advantages of Hawaiian's award-winning hassle-free service, including seamless connections with their ticketing and luggage.
The new agreement is especially beneficial for members of the two airlines' respective frequent flyer awards programs. HawaiianMiles members earn frequent flyer miles traveling aboard Northwest and can also redeem mileage awards for flights to any destination Northwest serves worldwide, with the exception of those routes served by Hawaiian.
Members of WorldPerks, Northwest's frequent flyer awards program, earn 500 miles for every interisland flight taken aboard Hawaiian and actual mileage between Honolulu and Sydney, Pago Pago, or Papeete. WorldPerks members can also redeem their mileage on all Hawaiian interisland and South Pacific flights.
“Northwest was our first code share partner and this exclusive new agreement ensures their customers will continue to receive the very best service available when traveling between the islands,” said Kirk Smith, Hawaiian's vice president of marketing and sales.
“We are delighted to be enhancing our partnership with Hawaiian Airlines. The seamless benefits and Hawaiian's network provides convenient connections to some of the world's most popular vacation destinations, said Nathaniel Pieper, Northwest's vice president – alliances.
Northwest serves the Hawaii market with over 50,000 seats per week including flights to and from Detroit, Minneapolis, Seattle, Anchorage, Portland, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Tokyo and Osaka.
Hawaiian provides 100 interisland flights daily using state-of-the-art Boeing 717-200 jets that comfortably seat 123 passengers, 8 in first class and 115 in coach. Hawaiian has been the nation's #1 on-time airline every month since November 2003, and is the only interisland carrier offering assigned seating, as well as first class service for travelers.
Code sharing allows an airline to sell seats on another carrier by attaching its two-letter booking code to the other carrier's flights listed in worldwide computer reservations systems.
About Hawaiian Airlines
Hawaiian was the nation's number one carrier for on-time service, fewest flight cancellations and best baggage service reliability in 2005, according to reports by the U.S. Department of Transportation. Consumer travel surveys conducted by Condé Nast Traveler, Travel + Leisure, and Zagat all rank Hawaiian as the top domestic airline serving Hawaii.
Now in its 77th year of continuous service in Hawaii, Hawaiian is the state'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 (nine), as well as service to Australia, American Samoa and Tahiti. Hawaiian also provides approximately 100 daily jet flights among the Hawaiian Islands.
Hawaiian Airlines, Inc. is a subsidiary of Hawaiian Holdings, Inc. (AMEX and PCX: HA). Additional information is available at HawaiianAirlines.com.
About Northwest Airlines
Northwest Airlines is the world's fifth largest airline with hubs at Detroit, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Memphis, Tokyo and Amsterdam, and approximately 1,200 daily departures. Northwest is a member of SkyTeam, an airline alliance that offers customers one of the world's most extensive global networks. Northwest and its travel partners serve more than 900 cities in excess of 160 countries on six continents.