New airline FlyHawaii website updated!

[Aloha717200]

Don't know if anyone here has heard but a new airline is starting up in Hawaii called FlyHawaii.

At first glance it looks like another Mahalo Air, but these guys seem to have a lot of cash and so far are doing really good with marketing and PR. They're going head-to-head with Island Air on most routes, as well as Aloha and Hawaii.


They plan to use ATR-72-500s and will be starting up with lots of frequency between the islands.


Today they finally unveiled their website to the public. Yesterday, except for the jobs section, it had bene password-protected. It's really interesting, they have lots of info about themselves and fun sections like the "fun zone" where you can take a quiz about the airline, read jokes, view funny commercials from other airlines (with a promise from FlyHawaii that theirs will be even more entertaining), and view the airline's colour scheme, interior, and basic info about their business plan. FlyHI says that they are going to look into why other carriers in the past in Hawaii have failed, and then not make the same mistakes.

In terms of PR these guys mean business. They've clearly poured a lot of cash into the website and are planning to do the same for all promotion. So they may in fact carve a niche for themselves, at least I hope so.


Here's the website, check it out: http://www.flyhi.com


Here is their startup routemap:

http://www.flyhi.com/images/flying_routemap.jpg


Take a look at the paint scheme and interior! Looks comfortable.

http://www.flyhi.com/images/fha-web-atr-exterior.jpg

Looks fantastic!!!

http://www.flyhi.com/images/fha-web-atr-interior.jpg



Aloha Airlines is still my favourite airline, but FlyHawaii sounds interesting and I hope they succeed. They look like they're going to try really hard to make this one work. They've even got a section on their site that tries to show people that turboprop flying can still be comfortable...clearly they're trying to break the stigma against turboprops that some people have. Interisland travellers generally prefer jets in Hawaii. These guys are trying to overcome that and their article is pretty convincing.


I dunno guys, they seem to have it together on the promotional side so far. With the right kind of promotion, I'm sure they'll make more than just a ripple. Maybe they really will do better than the failed interisland carriers of the past. It certainly seems that they're willing to put down the cash to get the public interested.

That website is fantastic. Even got a photo spot - "Here are some more pictures of the ATR-72 for those of you who really like to look at planes.".


Nice. Really nice. :D Go check out the site!

[metro752]

Wished they were based out of Maui, then I'd have political connections for a nice interview someday!

Looks coo, good luck to em!

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[MikeS_KPDX]

I have always heard that it is very expensive (cost per mile) to fly between the island vs equivelent lenghts on the mainland. may have to check it out. I like when new airlines startup, always exciting.

[pacallen]

I like their ATR-72 cockpit photo that has all the engine gauges at 0, gear down, an altitude of 500' , but an outside view looking down at the clouds :).

http://www.flyhi.com/images/zip/ATR-72Cockpit.zip

[FlyingKiwi]

Another one to add to my FS air traffic. ;)

[Aloha717200]

FlyHawaii rules...they just wrote me back! VP of Marketing read my email and responded. Have a look!


I wrote to them:

"Hi! I'm not sure if this will make any difference...but...first of all before I say anything I want to wish you guys the best of luck in getting this airline off the ground. There have been so many failed interisland and hawaii-mainland carriers in Hawaii's past, and I'd love for you guys to finally succeed in creating another real, permanent choice of more than two major carriers in Hawaii.

Up to this point I've been a fan of Aloha Airlines, but I want you guys to be able to carve out a niche all your own in the Hawaiian market, allowing yourselves and all the existing carriers to continue to successfully operate there. I really hope you succeed!

That said I have a suggestion, don't know if it will mean much but I might as well throw it out there if anyone is listening... Have you guys thought about trying to get a codeshare deal with an LCC serving Hawaii? One thing that might give you guys a huge advantage from day one would be to start up with codeshare agreements with a major player in the Hawaiian market, that can feed passengers from the mainland onto your interisland flights. Most people are familiar with Hawaiian and Aloha, and can easily pick one or the other to fly interisland.

Based on the EXCELLENT layout of the website, and the comment on the fun zone page about having good ads, it sounds like you guys have it together in the promotional department. But having a codeshare agreement makes it that much easier to get some passengers right from the start. Take ATA Airlines for example, they just started a code share with Southwest Airlines that is working out well for the two carriers. What if you were to ally yourselves with ATA?

ATA has a large presence in Hawaii, but as far as I know, no code share agreements with any interisland carriers. If you approached them, maybe you could get a codeshare worked out that would feed pax onto your planes from the mainland...taking advantage of ATA's low fares, and yours, the entire way. Plus southwest being part of the equation opens up further cities still. A passenger could logically fly Southwest to a connecting flight on ATA, to a connecting flight on FlyHi to get where they're going. ATA's not the only option but it's the first one that came to mind. One obstacle might be that ATA serves most major airports in Hawaii from the mainland direct...but you could connect the dots. You get the idea. It works for other carriers serving Hawaii too. You could even ally with a legacy carrier. I'm sure you've already thought of this, but, just my views on how you could have an advantage going into the market right from the start. Have a code share agreement with a mainland carrier serving Hawaii.

Just my thoughts, best of luck whatever you decide to do. Hope you guys stay flying for years to come, hopefully launching your own jet service to the mainland in the future!"



They responded:

Hi Brandon,



Thanks very much for your thoughts. Right now, we're not thinking we'll do code share agreements. But, we're not ruling them out either. There is an expense involved, and we want to keep fares low and encourage spontaneous, affordable travel. We are watching the ATA/Southwest arrangement carefully as connecting the dots for them could make a lot of sense.



We will be here to stay. Hawaii needs a carrier that is dedicated to interisland travel and that has a business model that will deliver the fares, frequency and service that Hawaii deserves while making money for our investors.



We really appreciate your taking time to send in such a thoughtful suggestion. Best wishes, and hope to welcome you on board soon!



Lori L. McCarney
VP Marketing
FlyHawaii Airlines, Inc.
745 Fort Street, Suite 604
Honolulu, HI 96813
lori.mccarney@flyhi.com
808-599-5588, ext 2011
808-599-5589 (fax)



I love this airline already. :D

[metro752]

"There is an expense involved, and we want to keep fares low and encourage spontaneous, affordable travel. We are watching the ATA/Southwest arrangement carefully as connecting the dots for them could make a lot of sense."

Yeah, no more L1011 rides betwen HNL-OGG :(