Hawaiian Airlines New Boston Route Makes History

Hawaiian Airlines launched its inaugural flight from Honolulu’s Daniel K. Inouye International Airport to Boston Logan International Airport today, becoming the nation’s longest interstate route.

The 5,095 mile route takes nearly 10 hours going and 11.5 hours returning.

Prior to today, Boston was the largest US market without nonstop service to Hawai‘i.  Airline executives say that some 250 people have been flying between eastern New England and the islands each way on any given day. The route generated about $79 million in ticket sales last year.

Hawaiian’s newest nonstop route to Boston operates five-times-a-week.

“As Hawai‘i’s airline, we take great pride in sharing our love of these Islands, and as we welcome our newest guests from the East Coast, we are confident they will find that their vacation begins and ends with us,’’ said Hawaiian Airlines President and CEO Peter Ingram. “We also want to help Hawai‘i residents get to where they want to go, and we know that people here travel to New England frequently.’’

“I congratulate Hawaiian Airlines for launching this exciting new flight and I thank our hometown airline for giving us — and visitors to Hawai’i — the best way to get to, from and between the islands,’’ said Hawai‘i Gov. David Ige in a company press release. “Having Hawaiian open new routes like Boston spreads the spirit of aloha to more of the planet.’’

In addition to vacations, the route opens economic and cultural opportunities. The seafood industry, important in both states, will benefit. On board Flight HA89 as it departed Boston for Hawai‘i: nearly one-and-a-half tons of live lobster. Hawaiian fish and produce will also be regularly flown to New England.

“On behalf of the Commonwealth, we are pleased to welcome Hawaiian Airlines to Massachusetts,’’ said Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker. “This new service will provide access to new markets for businesses and connect two exciting destinations for travelers in both states.’’

“I’m happy to welcome Hawaiian Airlines to Boston as we continue to create new avenues to Boston and new opportunities for residents and visitors,” said Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh. “With Hawaiian Airlines in Boston, this new service will strengthen our old ties, and forge new ones.” Hawaiian Airlines is collaborating with the Peabody Essex Museum on exciting ways to expand knowledge about the rich art, culture and heritage of Hawai‘i. The Peabody Essex Museum has one of the oldest and most significant collections of Oceanic art in the world.

To show Hawaiian Airlines’ aloha for Boston, airline employees will be engaged today in a surprise and delight campaign in Copley Square from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Boston Common, near the Park Street T Station, from 1:30 to 3 p.m. At each location, there will be live Hawaiian music and hula, fresh lei giveaway as well as a variety of prizes, including trips to Hawai‘i on the new route.

For JetBlue fans, Hawaiian’s expanded codeshare with Boston’s largest airline lets customers earn and redeem TrueBlue points on Hawaiian flights. The relationship also opens a plethora of new cities with connections through Boston, including Washington, DC, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Cleveland, and Detroit, all of which currently cannot connect to Hawai‘i through JetBlue in New York.

“We are very excited about Hawaiian Airlines’ new direct flights from Boston,’’ said Chris Tatum, president and CEO of the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority. “Providing nonstop service from one of our largest mainland markets will be a welcomed opportunity for our residents and visitors who will now have more options to travel. We congratulate Hawai‘i’s hometown airline and look forward to helping make this route successful.”

Last year, about 127,000 people from New England – more than half of them from Massachusetts — visited Hawaiʻi, according to the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority.

“We are excited to welcome Hawaiian Airlines and their nonstop service that connects New England to the Pacific,” said Massport Acting CEO John Pranckevicius. “As another winter ends, these flights out of Logan Airport offer Bostonians access to all the natural wonders of Honolulu and the Hawaiian Islands.”

Guests traveling from the East Coast to Hawai‘i will enjoy Hawaiian’s 278-seat Airbus A330 widebody aircraft, with 18 lie-flat seats in the front cabin. Each A330 has 68 Extra Comfort seats in the main cabin that provide a 36-inch pitch and more legroom for guests.

Hawaiian’s Executive Chef Lee Anne Wong, owner of Honolulu’s Koko Head Café, collaborates with Hawai‘i’s top chefs with two meals served in each direction. The flights leaving Boston will arrive in Hawai’i the same day in the early afternoon allowing guests time to settle into their accommodations or connect to Kauaʻi, Maui or the Island of Hawaiʻi via Hawaiʻi’s airline’s schedule of some 170 daily interisland jet flights.

Inaugural Honolulu to Boston flight. (4.5.19) PC: Hawaiian Airlines

Inaugural Honolulu to Boston flight. (4.5.19) PC: Hawaiian Airlines

Inaugural Honolulu to Boston flight. (4.5.19) PC: Hawaiian Airlines

Inaugural Honolulu to Boston flight. (4.5.19) PC: Hawaiian Airlines

Hawaiian Airlines’ launch of nonstop service between Boston and Honolulu will shower the Hub with aloha. A celebration of Hawaiian Airlines inaugural flight from Honolulu to Boston on 4/5/2019. PC: Hawaiian Airlines

Hawaiian Airlines’ launch of nonstop service between Boston and Honolulu will shower the Hub with aloha. A celebration of Hawaiian Airlines inaugural flight from Honolulu to Boston on 4/5/2019. PC: Hawaiian Airlines

Hawaiian Airlines’ launch of nonstop service between Boston and Honolulu will shower the Hub with aloha. A celebration of Hawaiian Airlines inaugural flight from Honolulu to Boston on 4/5/2019. PC: Hawaiian Airlines