When Hawaiian Airlines flight 86 took off from Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu, Hawaii, a new day started in American Aviation. A proud Hawaiian Airline CEO Peter Ingram shared his plans with eTurboNews and other media.
HA 86 is the first non-stop flight between Hawaii and Florida, opening up a new chapter of travel and tourism opportunities between the two US States and beyond. Today the inauguration flight took off after a traditional Hawaiian blessing. Hawaii Governor David Ige, and Hawaiian Airlines CEO Peter Ingram were at the gate addressing passengers, VIP’s and media.
It all started with Hula dancers and Hawaiian music welcoming passenger to the gate area.
Who was missing? John De Fries , CEO of the Hawaiian Tourism Authority (HTA) was missing. This is not surprising. eTurboNews has been unable to reach anyone at HTA’s leadership or talk to Mr. De Fries ever since COVID-19 broke out in February 2020.
Hawaii Governor David Ige, Hawaiian Airlines CEO Peter Ingram posed for a photo with the pilots, and made sure every passenger boarding this long-haul domestic flight received a Hawaiian Flower Lei to take to Florida.
Twice a week on Thursday and Sunday Hawaiian Airlines will connect the Aloha State with the Sunshine State non stop and in Hawaiian style.
Hawaiian Airlines always has been a progressive carrier, known for on-time arrivals and departures, good service for American standards, and a staff that is considered family or Ohana in the Hawaiian language.
Nonstop flights between Hawaii and the US East Coast currently operate between Honolulu and Boston, New York, and now Orlando.
Mr. Ingram said Hawaiians love to visit Orlando. The many theme parks, national parks, shopping, and of course exploring Florida is a favorite among travelers from Hawaii. “We had been eying Orlando service for a while.” Ingram is convinced there is a good market for this flight.
This may be good news for Hawaii Tourism but could raise concern in the Caribbean in making it so easy now for people to connect between the US Pacific State and Florida, no passport required.
Passengers boarding in Orlando for Honolulu currently need to provide a negative COVID-19 test from an approved laboratory to avoid a 14-day mandatory quarantine once they arrive in Hawaii ” We are working with our contacts in Orlando to make it easy for travelers to get this test within the required 72 hours before arrival.”
Some people in Hawaii remain critical opening tourism too fast. Infection numbers in Florida are way higher than in Hawaii. Among these people may be John de Fries, CEO of HTA, who never wanted mass tourism, but cultural travel. He is the first native Hawaiian tourism chief.
eTurboNews asked Mr. Ingam if he is considering requiring a rapid COVID test for passengers when they board flights. Such tests are now available and used at Emirates Airlines among others and can give results within 5 minutes.
The Hawaiian Airlines CEO told eTurboNews, he was relying on guidelines set by the CDC and FAA and is not currently considering it.
Today the Safe Travel Barometer issued an evaluation of every airline in the world. One measure was in regards to COVID safety and security. Among US Airlines Delta Airlines, received the highest score of 4.8, followed by American Airlines 4.7, United Airlines 4.6, Hawaiian Airlines 4.1, Jet Blue 4.1, Alaska Airlines 4.0, Southwest Airlines 3.9, Spirit Airlines 3.6. 4.0 to 4.5 is considered good and above 4.5 excellent.
This evaluation can still be considered good news for Hawaiian Airlines.
The only airline in the world with a 4.9 score is Qatar Airways.
Qatar Airways provides rapid tests, hand gloves, face masks to all passengers. The airline provides hand gloves, a face shield, and a PPE Suit for staff.
US-based airlines have Electrostatic Sprayers to disinfect, while Qatar Airways is using a way more effective method with ultraviolet radiation.
Perhaps US carriers should take Qatar Airways experience with ultraviolet radiation as a new standard. The same is true for hotels. Ultraviolet radiation is used for many hotels in the Gulf region but mostly untouched in the American world.
Based on US COVID-19 prevention standards, which are lower compared to Qatar Airlines, Emirates, Etihad, Hawaiian Airlines is doing everything correct under FAA and CDC guidelines.
It will hopefully not lead to an unnecessary increase of infections for Hawaii when allowing passengers from a higher infection region to arrive or return to the Aloha State based on current US safety and security standards for the Coronavirus.
It may be a race between the adoption of even higher safety standards and vaccines. Today US president Biden guaranteed all Americans to be on a list to receive the vaccine by May.
