Hawaiian Allows Use of Electronic Devices on Domestic Flights
Hawaiian Airlines, photo by Wendy Osher.
By Maui Now Staff
Hawaiian Airlines is now allowing customers to use personal portable electronic devices in “airplane mode” on all domestic flights.
The airline announced the completion of a certification process with the Federal Aviation Administration that allows for the added convenience.
The approval allows the use of the devices from takeoff through landing on domestic routes between Hawai’i and 11 US gateway destinations, as well as its fleet of Boeing 717-200 aircraft on neighbor island routes, the airline said.
Under previous FAA regulations, travelers were required to turn off and stow all electronic devices during flight when the aircraft was below 10,000 feet.
“The new policy allows Hawaiian Airlines customers to use their own personal small electronic devices that include smartphones, tablets, e-readers, music players and other small electronic devices under two pounds during all phases of the flight from gate-to-gate, with limited restrictions, unless otherwise instructed by the inflight crew,” the announcement stated.
The FAA policy covers domestic and international flights while within US airspace, with certain restrictions below:
| PHASES OF FLIGHT | NEIGHBOR ISLAND | U.S. | US to INTERNATIONAL |
INTERNATIONAL to U.S. |
| Boarding Process | YES | YES | YES | YES |
| Taxi from Gate | YES | YES | YES | NO |
| Below 10,000 ft. | YES | YES | YES | NO |
| Cruising Altitude (above 10,000 ft.) |
YES | YES | YES | YES |
| Descent (10,000 ft. until landing) |
YES | YES* | NO | YES* |
| Taxi to Gate | YES | YES | NO | YES |
*In certain situations, the pilot and/or in-flight team may ask guests to turn off their PEDs during the flight.
“We applaud the FAA’s new policy and are excited to allow our customers to use their devices throughout their flight when they travel with us,” Hawaiian Airlines president Mark Dunkerley in a company press release.
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