The departure of HA 807 followed gate side festivities that included Hawaiian music and hula, performance honoring the Taiwanese culture, traditional Hawaiian blessing, and presentation of lei to passengers boarding the inaugural flight. Remarks were given by Hawai'i Governor Neil Abercrombie, who was one of several VIP guests on the inaugural flight; V.C. Chu, director general of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Honolulu; and Peter Ingram, Hawaiian Airlines executive vice president and chief commercial officer.
"The demand for service to Hawai'i from the Taiwan market has been growing and we are delighted to respond to the strong interest by delivering our new non-stop service to and from Taipei," said Mark Dunkerley, Hawaiian Airlines president and CEO. "The Hawaiian Islands are the ideal midpoint destination, perfectly situated to offer dual-destination trips with easy connections between Taipei and our 11 gateways in the U.S."
Today's inaugural capitalizes on the extension of the U.S. Visa Waiver Program to cover citizens of Taiwan. Taipei is the capital city and economic center of Taiwan, and the surrounding metropolitan area of Taipei, New Taipei and Keelung is home to nearly seven million people. As a whole, Taiwan has more than 23 million people and is considered one of the "Four Asian Tiger Economies" with one of the highest Per Capita GDP in Asia.
"The historical and cultural ties between Hawai'i and Taiwan continue to be strong as we celebrate the 20th anniversary of our sister-state relationship. I congratulate Hawaiian Airlines for capitalizing on Taiwan's entrance into the Visa Waiver Program with new air service that will strengthen our connection with Taiwan," said Gov. Neil Abercrombie. "This service will create new business opportunities, and allow our friends in Taiwan to enjoy the beauty of Hawai'i and our families here to explore the abundant scenic attractions available in Taiwan."
Hawai'i hosted nearly 10,000 visitors from Taiwan in 2012, according to the Hawai'i Tourism Authority (HTA), which expects arrival numbers to grow substantially with Visa restrictions lifted. "This new Hawaiian Airlines flight fits into our strategy of global market diversification," commented Mike McCartney, HTA president and CEO. "This new service is critically important as Hawai'i strives to become a major hub for that region in Asia."
Hawaiian Airlines will operate three flights a week between Honolulu and Taipei using a 294-seat A330-200 aircraft. Flight HA 807 departs Honolulu International Airport at 1:55 a.m. every Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday, crosses the international dateline, and lands at Taipei International Airport at 6:15 a.m. the following day.
The return Flight HA 808 departs Taipei at 8:55 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, crosses the international dateline, and arrives in Honolulu at 1:10 p.m. the same day.
Travelers on Hawaiian Airlines enjoy an inflight experience not offered by any other airline. From the moment they board, Hawaiian Airlines' signature 'Mea Ho'okipa' (translation: I am host) onboard hospitality engages them throughout the flight with its warm and friendly celebration of the culture, people, and Aloha Spirit of the Hawaiian Islands.
