A MAJOR airline is now having to refund passengers after it announced it will cut three lines from its service.
The airline announced the suspension of three services: two international routes and one domestic route.
A popular US airline will suspend three different services[/caption]
The airline will stop services to certain locations in South Korea[/caption]
The airline will also stop services to a Fukuoka, Japan[/caption]
The airline will also stop services to Boston[/caption]
Hawaiian Airlines told passengers that it will replace three of its services in order to make way for more popular routes to and from Hawaii, Hawaii News Now reported.
Internationally, the airline will no longer be flying between Honolulu and Incheon, South Korea, and Fukuoka, Japan.
Domestically, the airline will stop services between Boston, Massachusetts, and Honolulu.
“It’s always a difficult decision to suspend a route, especially in cities like Seoul, which we have enjoyed serving for over 14 years,” Hawaiian Airlines CEO Joe Sprague, told the outlet.
“However, despite our team’s best efforts, soft post-pandemic travel demand from Asia, combined with various market challenges, has persisted in Seoul, as well as in Fukuoka and Boston, both of which we entered in 2019.
“These adjustments will ensure we are meeting strong demand for travel to Hawaii – both internationally and domestically – while providing all our guests access to more destinations.”
The suspension will go into effect in November.
The airline’s last flights from Fukuoka and Boston will be on November 19.
Flights from Incheon to Honolulu will stop a few days later on November 21.
Those who are meant to fly on the routes will be offered an alternative flight option or a full refund.
Hawaiian Airlines said the decision was made to ensure the airline had sufficient planes for its busier routes.
The busier routes include flights between Honolulu and Sydney, Australia; Papeete, Tahiti; Los Angeles, California; and Seattle, Washington.
“The adjustments are being made to ensure we are meeting demand for travel to and from Hawaii in the markets where we are seeing strength,” Alex Da Silva, Hawaiian Airlines regional communications director for Hawaii, told the outlet.
“No seats are leaving Hawaii — we’re putting them to better use.”
Hawaiian Airlines Route changes
Hawaii News Now reported that the airline will be:
- Increasing Honolulu-Sydney service with daily flights – up from five weekly flights – from Dec. 18 through Jan. 31
- Offering two weekly Honolulu-Papeete flights – up from one weekly flight – starting in March
- Launching a fifth daily flight between Honolulu and Los Angeles in peak seasons, starting Nov. 21 to Dec. 1, and Dec. 19 to Jan. 6
- Adding a fourth Honolulu-Seattle daily flight from late November to mid-April
Da Silva denied the speculation that the cut services have anything to do with Alaska Airlines taking over regulatory command for the airline.
Instead, the cut routes has to do with years of underperformance.
“The underperformance has persisted for several years – and not just year-over-year – on all three routes being discontinued,” Da Silva said.
”We wanted to see if the combination with Alaska Airlines could improve them, but after nearly a year into our combination, and after months of review and unfruitful efforts to stimulate the markets, we are making the decision to suspend service this November.”
In place of the removed flights, the airline will begin increasing services between Honolulu and Sydney from December 18 to January 31.
Domestically, the airline will increase flights between Honolulu and Los Angeles during peak holiday seasons.
Beginning in the springtime, the airline will offer nonstop services between Seattle and Rome.
