SimAirline.net - Viewpoint

Hawaiian Airlines celebrated its 80th anniversary today. Inter-Island Airways, which changed its name to Hawaiian in 1941, began service on 11 November 1929 using two Sikorsky S-38s, with the first flight from Honolulu to Maui to Hilo. This was the first airline service in Hawaii. As part of the celebration, the airline bought, restored, and repatriated its original aircraft, a Bellanca CH-300 Pacemaker which offered sightseeing tours of the island the prior month.

Below are a few interesting links about the airline's history:
Hawaiian Airlines - History
Hawaiian Airlines - Timeline
Airchive - Timetables & Route Maps
Hawaii's Aviation History - Inter-Island Airways/Hawaiian Airlines
Bellanca CH-300 Pacemaker

A new company, SATISFLY, is offering passengers the ability to be placed next to a suitable seatmate for them on board flights. SATISFLY "will increase compatibility among seat neighbors by positioning customers onboard according to their preferred behavior and personal profile." Hawaiian Airlines will be testing the service on airline employees on board before deciding about applying it to all passengers.

As part of its marketing, SATISFLY points to studies showing that brand recognition for airlines is helped by experiences with positive neighbors and hurt in opposite situations, despite these factors being out of the airline's control. In short, the service is trying to provide a more personal service for passengers on board and therefore build brand loyalty. They cite that "80% of passengers feel their seat neighbor's behavior influences their overall flight satisfaction," and half "would pay a premium to be seated next to someone that behaves like them."

An interesting idea. Will it be successful? It's hard to say. What makes mass transit so frustrating to people is having to cede one's independence to factors beyond their control or wishes.

In a sign of its improving fortunes, Hawaiian yesterday ordered an additional A330-200 and sped up deliveries to the second quarter of 2010. Hawaiian now has nine A330-200s and six A350-800s on order, with purchase rights for an additional six of each. Eight of its 767s are up for retirement in the next few years (20.4 years old), but the youngest ten average only 6.3 years.

This topic is being discussed on the Message Boards.

Hawaiian Airlines has announced plans to lease two A330-200s starting in 2011 in advance of its first A330 from Airbus. The two aircraft will replace two 767-300ERs currently in the fleet.

Hawaiian Airlines announced yesterday that it will install winglets on eight of its 767-300ERs starting in September 2009, with options for an additional seven shipsets. Hawaiian currently operates only fourteen -300ERs, so it's unclear why a fifteenth option would be needed, unless Hawaiian is looking at acquiring an additional 767-300ER. Hawaiian expects the winglets will save 5% of fuel consumption, or over 300,000 gallons per year.