Hawaiian Airlines has announced that they will be suspending their daily service to Fukuoka, Japan due to low demand. According to a report issued by the U.S. Department of Transportation, just 53 percent of the seats on this flight were filled through the first seven months of 2013. More recent data has not been made available yet, but President and CEO for Hawaiian Airlines, Mark Dunkerley, stated, "Unfortunately, despite two years of effort, we have not seen sufficient passenger growth to justify continuing the service."
Vice president of brand management for the Hawaii Tourism Authority, David Uchimaya, commented, "We're disappointed to see the reduction of Hawaiian service from Fukuoka but we've pointed out in the past we're going to expect to see overall adjustments (from airlines) in seat inventory." The HTA estimates that this route brought in 96,360 air seats per year, and generate approximately $156 million in visitor spending and $17 million in tax revenue per year. With Hawaiian Airlines ending this service, Delta Airlines will be the only carrier that will offer nonstop daily service to Fukuoka. According to the Department of Transportation, Delta has an occupancy rate of about 67 percent of their seats for this route.
Source: Honolulu Star Advertiser, 2-27-2014, www.staradvertiser.com
Posted by Jeff Uyemura-Reyes, Principal Broker, REALTOR®
Global Executive Realty, LLC
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