Hawaiian Airlines will launch a non-stop service between Honolulu and Beijing in April next year, but has dumped its under-performing Manila service.
Mark Dunkerley, Hawaiian Airlines’ president and CEO, said the new three-times-a-week Beijing service was made possible, in part, by reduced barriers to travel from China.
"With our network of flights between the islands and from Hawaii to 11 cities in the U.S. mainland, Hawaiian is in a great position to offer the multi-stop itinerary that many visitors from China prefer," Dunkerley said.
The Hawaii Tourism Authority estimates the new service will generate US$81 million in annual visitor expenditures and US$8.47 million in tax revenue for Hawaii.
Hawaiian Airlines will discontinue its non-stop Manila service from the end of July.
"High fuel prices and low fares have plagued this particular route," said Peter Ingram, Hawaiian’s chief commercial officer.
