Hawaiian Airlines could be operating on three direct routes from Australia in the coming years, with an airline executive confirming Melbourne is on the radar.
In an email to KarryOn, the carrier’s Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer, Peter Ingram, said Melbourne was “on the drawing board” of potential new markets.
Although he stressed that there are no current planned network changes, the Australian city was one of a number of international markets the airline was looking at “for the future”.
“We have a list of a half dozen markets that we are monitoring for that potential next commercial opportunity.”
Peter Ingram, Hawaiian Airlines Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer
“Right now, we have no planned changes and for 2016 our fleet is fully committed.”
His statement comes after the carrier’s low-cost rival, Jetstar, pulled its Brisbane-Honolulu flights, citing a lack of profitability.
Ingram said he wasn’t surprised to hear of Jetstar’s withdrawal because while the Brisbane market is important, it’s also “small”.
Hawaiian Airlines recently expanded its local team.
He continued, explaining that he believes Hawaiian has the “right customer proposition” in Australia and they’re always looking to “continuing opportunities to grow”.
A third Australian service wouldn’t come as too much of a surprise considering the airline recently stepped up its presence in the market with an expanded local office.
Gai Tyrrell, Hawaiian Airlines’ Regional Director of Australia, said last month that the larger team would focus on enticing more Australian travellers, while also working on “future plans in Australia”.