Hawaiian eyes Brisbane boost

Hawaiian eyes Brisbane boost
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Hawaiian Airlines has confirmed it will consider upping frequencies on its new Brisbane route “before long” on the back of strong demand, as the inaugural service took to the skies today.

The airline has already announced an additional 18 flights will operate on the three times weekly route between March and May. But chief executive Mark Dunkerley told Travel Today that a full-time increase is looking likely further down the line.

“This is as good a set of omens as we’ve seen for any new service, so we’ll be looking at increasing it before long,” he said. “When we have a good enough sense of the market we’ll look at increasing it.”

Dunkerley revealed Brisbane Airport has played a critical role in promoting the new service, with Hawaiian also advertising through traditional channels and working with Tourism Australia.

But “most importantly”, the carrier has been working closely with the Australian trade, which Dunkerley credited with the majority of Hawaiian’s local sales.

Although no additional Australian ports are likely to be added soon, Dunkerley said the airline is “always on the lookout” for new opportunities.

“But for now, Brisbane is our number one focus,” he added. Hawaiian will also introduce a new Auckland service in March.

Further network expansion is on the cards, Dunkerley revealed, but it may not take place in Asia Pacific.

“Over the next six months, we’re all about Australia and New Zealand,” he said. “But further into 2013, there are likely to be more destinations and some frequency enhancements. We’re just looking into where those are likely to be."

Additional services to the east coast of the US could be a possibility following the success of its new JFK service, he hinted.

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