Hawaiian Airlines Braces for Slow Return of Japanese Travelers
Photo Credit: Hawaiian Airlines Airbus A330. Source: Hawaiian Airlines
Skift Take
Hawaiian Airlines is still trying to get back on its feet from the aftermath of the pandemic. While it awaits the return of cautious Japanese travelers, a key demographic for the airline, the company is hoping to revamp in the meantime by gearing up with new aircrafts, partnerships and pilots.
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
