Hawaiian Airlines is reaching beyond the core of the Big Apple.
The state’s flagship carrier, scheduled to begin nonstop, daily service in June between New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport and Honolulu, announced a partnership Monday with JetBlue Airways that will enable travelers along the East Coast to fly to Hawaii by purchasing a single ticket that will combine travel on both airlines.
"What’s important about this is connectivity on the East Coast," Hawaiian President and CEO Mark Dunkerley said from New York. "So in addition to New York, Hawaiian with its partnership with JetBlue will be able to bring all the major cities of the East Coast within an easy connection to Hawaii."
Dunkerley said Hawaiian is teaming with JetBlue because it has more flights in the Northeast than any other carrier, has a "terrific" facility in a remodeled Terminal 5 at JFK Airport and because the two airlines "think very much alike" regarding customer service.
"We think the combination will be unstoppable," he said.
Dunkerley and Dave Barger, president and CEO of New York-based JetBlue, signed the agreement at Terminal 5 amid a Hawaii-themed celebration.
"We’re thrilled to partner with Hawaiian Airlines and look forward to welcoming them to our home in the Big Apple later this year," Barger said. "Our customers have long asked for options to the Aloha State."
The two airlines said the partnership will allow travelers served by JetBlue in such cities as Boston; Buffalo, N.Y.; Charlotte, N.C.; Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; Orlando, Fla.; and Raleigh-Durham, N.C., to fly on JetBlue and connect with the Hawaii-bound flight, which departs JFK daily at 10 a.m. and arrives at Honolulu Airport at 3 p.m. The return flight departs Honolulu at 3:05 p.m. and arrives in New York at 6:55 a.m. the following day.
The inaugural Hawaiian Air flight to New York will leave Honolulu on June 4, and the first return flight from New York will be June 5.
Hawaiian and JetBlue also have reached an agreement that allows members of each carrier’s frequent-flier program to earn and redeem loyalty points or miles for travel on either carrier.
Customers can purchase tickets now through airline call centers or travel agencies for itineraries combining both airlines in June and beyond. Connections are available for immediate travel through Los Angeles International Airport, where Hawaiian offers three daily departures to Honolulu and will add a seasonal Los Angeles-Maui flight beginning June 21. Online booking for JetBlue-Hawaiian connections is expected to be available in the next couple of months.
