Hawaiian Airlines inspired by legendary Southern Cross pioneers. Image: Eddie Coates

Hawaiian Airlines has become the only carrier to operate flights to Brisbane, Australia after the launch of its inaugural nonstop flight from Honolulu this week.

Hawaiian Airlines already operate daily flights between Sydney and Honolulu and decided to introduce the new route off the strength of demand for travel between Australia and Hawaii.

“Last year, 189,000 Australians visited Hawaii - more than double the number who visited before we started flying to Australia in 2004,” Hawaiian Airlines president and chief executive Mark Dunkerley said.

“We selected Brisbane as our second Australia gateway not only because of the high number of Queenslanders visiting Hawaii, but also because Brisbane Airport is perfectly positioned as a gateway for passengers from throughout Australia,” he said.

Hawaiian’s new service recalls the legendary transpacific flight of the Southern Cross, which in June 1928 - one year before Hawaiian Airlines was founded - became the first aircraft to fly from Hawaii to Brisbane.

“Today, more than 84 years later, I am delighted to be in Brisbane to welcome our own inaugural flight from Hawaii to the Queensland capital, and to celebrate the commencement of our new scheduled services from Brisbane to Honolulu,” Mr Dunkerley said.

“Not only do we now offer the only nonstop flights between Brisbane and Hawaii, we offer authentic Hawaiian service, enabling our customers to start their Hawaii holiday the moment they set foot aboard our aircraft.”

Hawaiian Airlines will depart Brisbane at 6.35pm on Wednesday, Friday and Sundays, arriving in Honolulu at 8:05am the same day.

Hawaiian will operate 18 supplementary flights between March and May 2013, allowing the airline to explore new scheduling options to enable travellers from the United States mainland to fly to Brisbane via Honolulu.