Dec. 9—Hawaiian Airlines is expanding its domestic network to three new destinations, including its first in the south-central region.
The state's largest carrier, which like all airlines has had to reduce service due to the COVID-19 pandemic, said Tuesday it will launch nonstop service next year to Orlando, Fla.; Ontario, Calif.; and Austin, Texas.
Hawaiian also said it will expand service at Long Beach with daily nonstop flights to Kahului, Maui starting March 9.
"We are delighted to bring our superior value proposition to travelers visiting Hawai 'i from Austin, Ontario and Orlando, while adding service to Maui from Long Beach, " Hawaiian President and CEO Peter Ingram said in a statement. "2021 is going to be a special time to experience Hawai 'i, and we can't wait to welcome onboard guests from our newest cities."
Tickets have gone on sale for the new routes. Travelers on the Orlando and Austin flights will have the option of using the airline's lie-flat seating in the First Class cabin of its A330 aircraft.
Hawaiian will begin service to its third Eastern gateway city on March 11 when it offers two weekly flights aboard its 278-seat Airbus A330 between Honolulu and Orlando International Airport. Orlando is one of the largest U.S. travel markets to Hawaii without nonstop service. Other flights between Honolulu and the Eastern region are to New York and Boston.
"We are thrilled to announce that Central Florida residents can look forward to nonstop service to Hawai 'i, and that Orlando International Airport is officially Florida's connection to the aloha state, " Phil Brown, CEO of the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority, said in a statement. "This new service represents a significant investment that will strengthen economic, leisure and cultural bonds between two of the country's top tourism destinations."
In California, Hawaiian will offer five weekly nonstop flights between Honolulu and Ontario International Airport starting March 16 using a 189-seat Airbus A321neo.
"We're excited to be able to offer our community new nonstop service to Hawai 'i, " said Alan D. Wapner, president of the Ontario International Airport Authority Board of Commissioners. "It's one of the biggest requests we get from travelers, and I know it will be an extremely popular route. I want to thank Hawaiian Airlines for their support and confidence in Southern California's fastest-growing aviation gateway."
The 16th U.S. city in Hawaiian's network will be Austin. Nonstop service to the capital of Texas will begin on April 21 with two weekly flights aboard an Airbus A330.
"Even though this year has had unprecedented impacts to the airline and airport industries, Austin-Bergstrom International Airport remains committed to providing the best service we can to our passengers, " airport CEO Jacqueline Yaf said in a statement. "We know that many Central Texans will be eager to travel next year and we are excited to offer an easy and convenient way for them to explore Hawai 'i."
Hawaiian said that as one of the state's trusted testing partner, it is offering its passengers dedicated, pre-travel COVID-19 testing services that guarantee processing times within 24-36 hours so they can receive negative results prior to departure and be exempted from quarantine.
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