Hawaiian Airlines is most well-known for its long-haul flights to the continental U.S. and Asia, but for residents of Hawaii, the carrier’s interisland service is crucial for a variety of reasons, from visiting family to attending business meetings. In a recent interview, Brent Overbeek, Hawaiian’s vice president of revenue management and network planning, discussed the importance of this service and how it may change following the closure of Island Air, Hawaiian’s main competitor in the interisland market.
Overbeek shared that Hawaiian currently operates in 11 markets and flies to eight destinations using its mainline 717 aircraft with 128 seats and its commuter Ohana service using 48-seat ATR 42s. The majority of interisland traffic passes through Honolulu, as over 80% of Hawaii’s population resides on Oahu. However, Hawaiian also offers direct service from Maui to some of the other islands.
The airline runs a high-density schedule through Honolulu, with 26 daily departures to Maui. When asked why larger aircraft are not used, Overbeek explained that passengers prefer the frequency and quick turnaround time of smaller planes. He also mentioned that as aircraft size increases, frequency must be reduced and turnaround time is longer.
The majority of passengers on Hawaiian’s interisland flights are residents of Hawaii, accounting for 60-65% of traffic. These passengers include those traveling for business and family visits, as well as those who would typically take a bus or car in other destinations due to the lack of roads between the islands. The second largest group of passengers are those connecting from international flights, followed by those connecting from other carriers.
On average, 70,000 residents of Hawaii fly on Hawaiian’s interisland flights each week, with a total of 110,000-120,000 passengers. The average one-way fare is $90, including taxes and fees, for the 12 months leading up to the second quarter.
With the closure of Island Air on November 10th, Hawaiian’s only competitor in the interisland market is Mokulele Airlines, which operates nine-seat turboprops. When asked if Hawaiian plans to add more service, Overbeek stated that they have been gradually increasing service and will continue to grow capacity by single digits this year. They have also added 16 additional flights since Island Air’s announcement, and will continue to assess the demand for more service.
Regarding prices, Overbeek shared that Hawaiian has not changed their pricing since the closure of Island Air and has even made accommodations to make flights more affordable for passengers. He emphasized the airline’s responsibility to the community and their recognition of the important service they provide.
Finally, when asked about the possibility of competition from other carriers, such as Southwest, who has expressed interest in offering interisland service starting next year, Overbeek expressed confidence in Hawaiian’s ability to succeed in any environment. He stated that the airline will continue to focus on providing the right people, schedule, and product to meet the needs of their customers.
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