Hawaiian Airlines Seeks Approval for Fukuoka-Honolulu Service

Hawaiian Airlines intends to provide new non-stop service between Fukuoka, Japan and Honolulu starting as soon as November 2019, company officials announced today.

Plans call for Hawaiian to operate four weekly flights between Fukuoka Airport on the island of Kyushu and Honolulu’s Daniel K. Inouye International Airport on O‘ahu.

“We are eager to bring travelers in Fukuoka and throughout Kyushu our warm Hawaiian hospitality along with the convenience of non-stop flights to Hawai‘i,” said Theo Panagiotoulias, senior vice president for global sales and alliances at Hawaiian Airlines. “Japan is a special place to Hawaiian and Hawai‘i, and we are excited to make both island chains more accessible for our guests.”

The service is still subject to government approvals. Hawaiian’s proposed new service is subject to the airline securing FUK slots that enable a commercially viable schedule. Additional approvals are also required from Japanese and US government agencies.

“I would like to send my sincere welcome to Hawaiian Airlines for its plan to operate Fukuoka-Honolulu service,” said Masanori Hashimoto, director general of airport planning bureau, Fukuoka Prefectural government. “Fukuoka Prefecture and the state of Hawaii have been sister states since 1981, and have been establishing exchanges in various areas, including tourism, culture, and the economy. We are excited that the discontinuation of service to Hawai‘i this month will be short lived. Hawaiian’s new service will ensure that our Hawai‘i exchange relationship and opportunities to travel abroad will be unaffected. We are glad that Hawaiian Airlines is planning to start the route in response to local demand.”

Fukuoka Prefecture is home to more than 5 million of the 13 million residents of Kyushu, the third largest and most southerly of Japan’s four main islands. In 1981, the prefecture became Hawai‘i’s first sister state in recognition of their deep cultural and economic ties. Hawaiian previously operated non-stop service between FUK and HNL from April 2012 through June 2014.

Hawaiian’s new FUK-HNL flights would complement the airline’s Japan network, which includes non-stop service connecting the Hawaiian Islands with both Haneda and Narita in Tokyo, as well as Osaka and Sapporo.

Guests traveling with Hawaiian Airlines between Japan and Hawai‘i enjoy the roominess and comfort of the carrier’s wide-body Airbus A330 aircraft, which would serve the new Fukuoka-Honolulu route. It features 18 lie-flat Premium Cabin leather seats arranged in a 2-2-2 configuration tailored for couples, families and honeymooners, while offering great functionality to business travelers. Hawaiian also offers 68 of its popular Extra Comfort seats with more legroom and enhanced amenities, in addition to 192 Main Cabin seats. All guests will enjoy Hawaiian’s award-winning hospitality, including island inspired meals prepared by Hawai‘i’s top chefs.