Hawaiian Airlines Braces for Slow Return of Japanese Travelers
Skift Take
Hawaiian Airlines reported a net loss of $240 million for all of 2022 on Tuesday, largely attributed to a slower than previously expected return of Japanese travelers and competition for inter-island service between the eight major Hawaiian islands.
The Honolulu airline saw a robust return in travel to Hawaii from North America and international markets excluding Japan, as well as strong support from premium and ancillary products’ performance. Compared to pre-pandemic levels, U.S. mainland to Hawaii total passenger revenue was up 29 percent on 9 percent more capacity.
Japan has historically been a major market for Hawaiian Airlines, which offered daily flights to each of Tokyo, Osaka, Sapporo and Fukuoka before the pandemic. In 2019, Hawaiian attempted to create a joint venture and code-share agreement with Japan Airlines by filing an application with the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) to seek antitrust immunity. While the country recently reopened for international travel, its tourists are not f
