Hawaiian Air begins service to Sendai

Hawaiian Airlines is planning to slow its rapid expansion after launching or announcing flights to 10 new international destinations in less than three years.

The state’s largest carrier inaugurated its newest route Tuesday with three-days-a-week service to Sendai, Japan. It is the airline’s fifth city in Japan and the first scheduled service between Hono­lulu and Sendai since 2004 when JALways, a subsidiary of Japan Airlines, left the market.

"Sendai is a little like Sapporo," said Peter Ingram, Hawaiian’s chief commercial officer. "It’s a market that hasn’t had the benefit of direct service. We think there’s an opportunity to stimulate some of the demand by establishing a direct link between Sendai and Hono­lulu."

Hawaiian’s new service to Sendai is among the first to be introduced at Sendai Airport since it was closed for more than a month in 2011 due to damage caused by the Tohoku earthquake and subsequent tsunami.

The eight-hour, 26-minute flight between Hono­lulu and Sendai is nonstop and then proceeds to Sapporo before returning to Hono­lulu. Sapporo service, which also is offered three days a week, had been a nonstop flight in both directions prior to Tuesday’s Sendai launch. Hawaiian, which began flying to Sapporo in October, also flies to Tokyo, Osaka and Fuku­oka.

Hawaiian still has two previously announced routes yet to start. It will begin flying between Hono­lulu and Taipei on July 9 and between Hono­lulu and Beijing in April. The Beijing service is subject to government approvals.

Ingram said that with several Boeing 767s reaching the end of their lease and leaving the fleet, Hawaiian’s expansion will begin to slow.

"We’ve actually got a little bit of reduction in our growth rate next year," Ingram said. "We’ve been growing very, very rapidly over the last two years. Next year, while we have some new (A330) aircraft coming onboard, we also have some aircraft retiring. That means there’s less new route additions over the next couple years than you’ve seen over the last few."

Hawaiian also is planning to begin service in the third quarter to Molokai and Lanai through its new turboprop operation, ‘Ohana by Hawaiian, which will use 48-seat ATR 42 aircraft operated by Idaho-based Empire Airlines. The start date is still to be determined due to delays in obtaining regulatory certification.

With billionaire and Island Air owner Larry Ellison working on a deal in which go! parent Mesa Air Group would operate go! planes under the Island Air name, Hawaiian stands to face added competition in the interisland market. Ellison also owns 97 percent of Lanai.

"Frankly, Mr. Ellison is not the first millionaire to buy an airline in the state," Ingram said. "He may be the first billionaire, but he’s certainly not the first millionaire to buy an airline. We’re obviously paying attention to what they’re doing. We’re prepared to remain competitive, and, really, our focus is on what we do."

There were 115 passengers aboard Tuesday’s inaugural flight to Sendai on a 264-seat Boeing 767-300ER.