Hawaiian Airlines Celebrates 2 Years of Service to Beijing

Hawaiian Airlines Airbus A330 at Honolulu International Airport. Photo credit: Damian Balinowski.

Hawaiian Airlines is entering its third year of nonstop flights between Beijing, China, and Honolulu, with plans for enhanced marketing programs and cabin amenities, airline officials announced Monday, April 25.

Hawai‘i’s largest and longest-serving airline discussed its success and future plans at a news conference in Beijing celebrating the second anniversary of three-times weekly flights inaugurated on April 16, 2014.

Since launching service, Hawaiian has shared its signature hospitality with more than 100,000 guests on over 600 flights between Beijing Capital International and Honolulu International airports.

Visitor arrival numbers compiled by the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority suggest Hawaiian Airlines’ Beijing to Honolulu route has contributed significantly in recent years to a sharp rise in the number of Chinese tourists traveling to the state.

In the first year of the route’s operation, the number of visitors from China grew 29.1%—a trend that continued in 2015 with a further 12.4% growth.

It is estimated that Hawaiian’s service generated approximately $100 million for the local economy in direct visitor spending during the period.

“The past two years represented the beginning of a new era of safe, comfortable and convenient air travel between Honolulu and China’s capital, Beijing,” said Liwei Kimura, regional director and chief representative for Greater China at Hawaiian Airlines. “Over the next year, Hawaiian Airlines will build on its success to widen its reach across the country, striving to introduce more Chinese travelers to our authentic Hawaiian hospitality and the beauty and wonder of Hawai‘i.”

Hawaiian Airlines’ Beijing-Honolulu service is operated by its wide-body, 294-seat Airbus A330-200 aircraft, which are being equipped with 180-degree lie-flat seats starting this year.

Earlier this year, Hawaiian Airlines kicked off a fully-integrated, 360-degree, Fly with Aloha campaign centered on a video introducing Chinese audiences to the unique and authentic aloha spirit of warmth and hospitality that informs every element of the carrier’s brand.

Launched through social media in January, the video has already garnered over 400,000 views. A series of offline activation events at office buildings throughout Beijing in April, meanwhile, generated huge buzz with the video playing around 10 million times on more than 11,200 screens across the capital.

Hawaiian Airlines drew attention to the campaign by inviting thousands of users of Mafengwo, one of China’s top online travel communities, to follow well-known Chinese travelers as they traveled to Hawai‘i to discover the origin of the aloha spirit for themselves.

Users of the site were able to read live updates from these key opinion leaders as they completed a number of daily challenges ranging from learning to hula to cooking one of Hawaiian Airlines’ inflight meals under the guidance of Executive Chef Chai Chaowasaree.

“From the moment I boarded the flight, I felt the unmistakable allure of Hawai‘i and the aloha spirit so deeply rooted in Hawaiian Airlines’ culture,”said ZhenMeiQu, a famous traveler on the GO! ALOHA! trip jointly launched by Hawaiian Airlines and Mafengwo. “It was great learning to hula dance from a flight attendant and experiencing Hawaiian’s authentic in-flight service and hospitality. They’re so enthusiastic and kind.”

Another influential travel writer, Super Baozi, also shared his exciting experience.

“I learned to make cocktails, roast coffee and play the ‘ukulele, and even make in-flight meals with Chef Chai Chaowasaree from Hawaiian Airlines,” Baozi said. “I especially won’t forget the food and wine, Hawai‘i itself and the aloha spirit of the locals. Hawaiian Airlines embraces the aloha spirit of kindness, love and passion in their culture and service. We felt so comfortable and happy flying with Hawaiian Airlines.”

“Congratulations and mahalo to Hawaiian Airlines for two years of success with its Beijing-Honolulu route,” said George D. Szigeti, president and CEO of the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority. “Nonstop service is key to increasing Hawai‘i’s share of China’s travel market and Hawaiian is certainly doing its part. Hawaiian’s Beijing service is supporting the diversified growth of tourism in Hawai‘i, and its brand of onboard hospitality reinforces the unmatched aloha spirit that makes a visit so enjoyable.”

Hawaiian Airlines welcomes guests with its signature Mea Ho‘okipa (“I am Host”) on-board service, immersing them in a warm and friendly celebration of the culture, people, and aloha spirit of the Hawaiian Islands.

Personalizing the experience to Chinese tastes, inflight meals include a range of Chinese-inspired Hawaiian fusion cuisine prepared by one of the Pacific Rim’s leading chefs.

The comfort, roominess and amenities of the Hawaiian Airlines’ A330 aircraft adds to the enjoyment of the customer travel experience.

With high-resolution LCD touch-screen monitors in each seat back, the A330’s state-of-the-art entertainment system offers complimentary premium content on all of Hawaiian’s international routes, allowing customers to choose from a wide range of movies, TV programs, music and video games, while also offering a USB port to charge their personal devices.

International business class customers traveling through Honolulu can also relax in style with complimentary access to Hawaiian Airlines’ luxurious 3,600 square-foot Plumeria Lounge.

Hawaiian customers flying to Beijing from any of its 11 gateway cities in North America—New York, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose, Sacramento, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Portland and Seattle—can also take advantage of free stopovers in Hawai‘i, giving them added flexibility and convenience when experience the best Hawaii has to offer.

For more information about Hawaiian Airlines, go online.