Airlines

Hawiian Airlines

The History

Hawiian Airlines

A pioneer of Pacific aviation, Hawaiian Airlines was incorporated on January 30, 1929 under the name Inter-Island Airways Ltd. On November 11 that same year, thousands gathered at Honolulu's John Rodgers Airport to witness the departure of Hawaii's first scheduled interisland flights: Inter-Island's inaugural flights to Maui and the Big Island of Hawaii. Two eight-passenger Sikorsky S-38 amphibian planes thus began three weekly round trips between these destinations.

The airline continued to modernize its fleet as aviation technology advanced. In 1935 larger, 16-passenger Sikorsky S-43s were added to accommodate increased traffic and newly authorized interisland airmail service.

In 1941 Inter-Island changed its name to Hawaiian Airlines and introduced the 24-passenger DC-3 into Hawaiian skies. This "workhorse" of the piston era was the mainstay of the airline's fleet for many years. It became vital during wartime operations when all interisland traffic was placed under military control. Granted the very first air cargo certificate issued by the Civil Aeronautics Board, Hawaiian Airlines provided an aerial lifeline to Hawaii's Neighbor Islands during World War II.

In 1952 Hawaiian continued to lead in interisland air transport with the introduction of the Convair 340, providing Hawaii with its first pressurized, air-conditioned cabin service. The airline later purchased a long-range four-engine DC-6 aircraft for military charter transpacific flights in 1958.

The advent of commercial jet service in the 1960s resulted in increased air traffic to and from Hawaii. Hawaiian grew to accommodate the travel needs of a growing residential population as well as an expanding visitor industry. In 1966 the airline brought to Hawaii its first pure jet interisland aircraft, the McDonnell Douglas DC-9. Travel time between the islands was reduced to a mere 20 to 30 minutes. The DC-9 remains the backbone of Hawaiian's mixed interisland fleet, Hawaii's best answer to the travel needs of residents and visitors alike.

In 1984 Hawaiian began to provide worldwide charter services with three long-range DC-8 jets. Soon after, scheduled service began to Pago Pago, American Samoa and Nuku'alofa, Tonga. A year later Hawaiian acquired five Lockheed L-1011 widebody aircraft for scheduled and charter service. June 12, 1985 marked the inauguration of Hawaiian Airlines' scheduled widebody jet service between the West Coast and Hawaii with daily flights to Los Angeles. Daily flights between Hawaii and San Francisco and Seattle started in January, 1986. Service to Western Samoa soon followed.

In 1987 Hawaiian expanded its South Pacific service by inaugurating flights to Tahiti, and Rarotonga in the Cook Islands. South Pacific service was scaled back in 1993 with the retirement of DC-8 aircraft used on these routes.

In 1990 the international travel and hospitality publication Condé Nast Traveler rated Hawaiian Airlines one of the world's safest airlines. In an exclusive 20 year study (August 1990 issue), Condé Nast noted that Hawaiian was one of only five U.S. carriers, along with four with relatively short histories, that had never had an air fatality in their entire histories. Thirteen years later, Hawaiian's record of safety continues unbroken.

In late 1993 Hawaiian Airlines entered into a series of marketing and services agreements with American Airlines' parent AMR Corporation. Consequently, Hawaiian in 1994 converted its reservations and operating computer system to American's SABRE system, became a participating carrier in American's AAdvantage® Travel Awards program and replaced its entire widebody fleet of Lockheed L-1011 aircraft with DC-10 aircraft provided and maintained by American.

In 2001, Hawaiian began a comprehensive fleet modernization program with the delivery of 13 new Boeing 717-200 aircraft that would completely replace its DC-9 fleet that year. In 2002 and 2003, the company completed the program with the complete replacement of its widebody DC-10 fleet with 14 Boeing 767-300ER aircraft. Hawaiian Airlines' fleet is now among the youngest in the industry.

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