“Exciting times” for Hawaiian’s new Australia team

Hawaiian Airlines has promised “exciting times” lie ahead as it established its new in-house Australian commercial team.

Speaking to Travel Weekly, regional director Australia and New Zealand Gai Tyrrell explained that the time was right for the airline to represent itself.

“We had a GSA model for a long time and they did a great job for us, but you get to a point in the business and in your own growth when it becomes time to represent yourself,” she said.

“We’re going to be upscaling further, and so I have assembled a really high calibre team which I am absolutely thrilled with.”

Among the new appointments are Kim Chapman as director of sales Australia, Keiryn Osborne as distribution manager Australia and New Zealand and Karen Macmillan as partnerships and promotions manager Australia and New Zealand. National account managers will be Andrew Best based in Sydney and Jennifer Edmunds based in Brisbane with business development managers Gillian Hayward and Janis McDonald to be based in Sydney and Brisbane respectively.

“The team’s much bigger than that which has represented us in the past as well,” Tyrrell said. “It’s really exciting times ahead.”

Among the impending changes is the introduction of new luxury lie-flat seats in the airline’s A330 premium cabins which will be phased in from the second quarter of this year as the result of a process of guest feedback and “intensive research”. The 180-degree seats will fold into 76-inch beds and will feature an in-flight entertainment experience powered by large-format tablets and equipped with a telescoping tablet arm to adjust viewing angle and comfort.

Meanwhile, although Hawaii Tourism Oceania has expressed some concern over the weakening Australian dollar, Tyrrell was hopeful the impact would be minimal.

“Everyone in the travel space will suffer to a certain degree but this issue isn’t standalone to us – it is relevant to many carriers,” she said. “It’s still about presenting yourself as the best destination.”

Tyrrell insisted there would be no scaling back of its Brisbane service, although some seasonal adjustments will be made in line with its competitors.

“But there are no plans for us to permanently reduce capacity,” she said.

The airline now operates daily services from Sydney to Honolulu and services four times weekly from Brisbane.

Hawaiian’s Australian Reservations and Administration Office has relocated to Level 1/123 Clarence Street, Sydney. The new Hawaiian Airlines Reservations number is 1300 661 339.

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Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au

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