Hawaiian Airlines Lands in the Lone Star State

Carrier increasing summer frequency to three weekly flights May 28-Aug. 13

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Apr 22, 2021, 17:44 ET

HONOLULU, April 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Hawaiian Airlines today celebrated the inauguration of its twice-weekly nonstop service between Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) and Honolulu's Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL). Hawai'i's hometown carrier introduced its in-house music and dance group, The Hawaiian Airlines Serenaders, to the "Live Music Capital of the World" as it welcomed guests aboard its first flight to Hawai'i.

The Hawaiian Airlines Serenaders performing at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport

Hawaiian Airlines President and CEO Peter Ingram (second from left) pictured with HA82's pilot crew at Honolulu's Daniel K. Inouye International Airport prior to the inaugural flight

Pictured from L to R (not including dancers): Doug Driskill, chair for the Austin Chamber Air Service Task Force; Vanessa Fuentes, Austin city councilwoman, District 2; Peter Ingram, president and CEO of Hawaiian Airlines; Jacqueline Yaft, chief executive officer of Austin-Bergstrom International Airport; and Tom Noonan, president & CEO of the Austin Convention & Visitor’s Bureau

"We're thrilled to be the first carrier to provide nonstop flights between Central Texas and Hawai'i," said Peter Ingram, president and CEO of Hawaiian Airlines, who celebrated the inaugural departure alongside representatives from AUS airport, the City of Austin, Visit Austin and the Austin Chamber of Commerce. "Both destinations are known for their incredible food, music and arts scene and we couldn't be more excited to connect these two amazing cities with our convenient, award-winning service."

Flight HA81 departs Austin on Thursday and Sunday at 10:10 a.m. with a 1:30 p.m. scheduled arrival in Honolulu, allowing guests to check in to their accommodations and begin exploring O'ahu or connect to any of Hawaiian's four Neighbor Island destinations. The flight from Honolulu to Austin, HA82, departs on Wednesday and Saturday at 10 a.m. and arrives at 10:10 p.m.

Hawaiian will increase AUS-HNL service to three weekly flights from May 28 through Aug. 13 to meet summer travel demand.

"Hawaiian Airlines' arrival in Austin signals strong confidence in the Austin market as we continue to recover from the financial impacts of the pandemic," said Jacqueline Yaft, chief executive officer for AUS. "This is a great milestone for both our airport and our greater Austin community."

In recognition of the inaugural service coinciding with Earth Day, Hawaiian encouraged guests heading to Hawai'i to travel pono – responsibly – by gifting them a reusable utensil kit, part of the airline's new eco-minded collection of products that launched this week.

Guests onboard Hawaiian's Austin-Honolulu flights will enjoy the airline's signature Mea Ho'okipa (I am host) service - the gold standard in domestic leisure travel featuring an authentic Hawai'i experience. Hawaiian proudly offers complimentary meals in all cabins and has partnered with Hawai'i's top chefs to offer an island-inspired dining experience for guests traveling in its First Class cabin. Guests will feel relaxed in the roominess and superior comfort of its 278-seat Airbus A330 aircraft, which feature 18 First Class lie-flat leather seats arranged in a 2-2-2 configuration tailored for couples, families and honeymooners, as well as business travelers. Hawaiian's A330s are also equipped with 68 of its popular Extra Comfort premium economy seats providing more legroom and enhanced amenities, in addition to 192 Main Cabin seats.

Hawaiian, the nation's most punctual airline for 17 straight years, has simplified the experience for guests to meet the state of Hawai'i's pre-travel testing requirements and be exempt from quarantine upon arrival through partnerships with Worksite Labs, which offers drive-thru COVID-19 testing near AUS airport, and CareNow Urgent Care, which administers rapid testing at 15 locations in the Greater Austin area. More information on these partners can be found at www.HawaiianAirlines.com/Covid-Test-Options/Austin.

Guests who obtain a negative test within 72 hours from departure will receive a pre-clear wristband during boarding that allows them to bypass airport screening in Hawai'i.

For media assets from the AUSHNL (HA81) inauguration ceremony, click here.
For media assets from the HNLAUS (HA82) inauguration ceremony, click here.

About Hawaiian Airlines

Hawaiian® has led all U.S. carriers in on-time performance for each of the past 17 years (2004-2020) as reported by the U.S. Department of Transportation. Consumer surveys by Condé Nast Traveler, Travel + Leisure and TripAdvisor have placed Hawaiian among the top of all domestic airlines serving Hawai'i.

Now in its 92nd year of continuous service, Hawaiian is Hawai'i's biggest and longest-serving airline. Hawaiian offers nonstop flights within the islands, between Hawai'i and more U.S. gateway cities (16) than any other airline, as well as service connecting the islands with Japan and South Korea. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, Hawaiian has temporarily suspended service in Australia, New Zealand, American Samoa and Tahiti.

The airline is committed to the health and safety of its guests and employees and has reinforced enhanced cleaning procedures across its business. While the experience may be a little different, the authentic Hawaiian hospitality remains unchanged. Additional details on how Hawaiian is keeping guests and employees safe can be found at HawaiianAirlines.com/KeepingYouSafe.

Hawaiian Airlines, Inc. is a subsidiary of Hawaiian Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: HA). Additional information is available at HawaiianAirlines.com. Follow Hawaiian's Twitter updates (@HawaiianAir), become a fan on Facebook (Hawaiian Airlines), and follow us on Instagram (hawaiianairlines). For career postings and updates, follow Hawaiian's LinkedIn page.

For media inquiries, please visit Hawaiian Airlines' online newsroom.

SOURCE Hawaiian Airlines