Hawaiian Airlines' new flights to Brisbane set to boost travel to Hawai'i

From 27 November this year, Hawaiian Airlines will commence nonstop flights between Honolulu and Brisbane.

The service will run three times a week, bringing the airline’s weekly flights between Australia and Honolulu up to ten, an addition of more than 40,000 seats a year.

Although ticket sale dates are yet to be announced Hawaiian Airlines confirmed that a Boeing 767-300ER aircraft seating 262 passengers in Business and Economy will begin in time for the Australian summer vacation period.

According to Hawaiian Airlines president and chief executive Mark Dunkerley, the new flights will make for easier Hawaiian access for Queenslanders and will likely boost travel from Australia.

“Hawai’i is one of the most popular and fastest growing international holiday destinations for travelers from Australia," he said.

The Hawai’i Tourism Authority (HTA) revealed that Australian arrivals for the first quarter of this year grew 55 percent over the same period in 2011, a number they expect to increase with Hawaiian Airlines’ new offering.

Australian travelers off the new flights are estimated to spend some $80 million in Hawai’i, the HTA said.

"Hawaiian's starting of service between Brisbane and Honolulu is great news for our tourism economy, as this new route will provide better connectivity for Australians to visit the Hawaiian Islands,” HTA president and chief executive Mike McCartney said.

Hawaiian Airlines Flight 443 will depart Honolulu at 10.20 am every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday and land in Brisbane at 4.00 pm the following day after a nine hour journey.