Hawaiian Airlines Coming to Long Beach

Hawaiian Airlines will begin daily, nonstop flights between Long Beach and Honolulu later this spring.

The renowned air company will fly out of Long Beach Municipal Airport (LGB) to Honolulu (HNL) starting June 1, giving locals a convenient, direct route to Hawaii and back.

“Long Beach is a perfect gateway for travelers in Los Angeles and Orange County to ease into their Hawaiian vacation,” Peter Ingram, Hawaiian’s executive vice president and chief commercial officer said in a statement. “We look forward to welcoming our guests onboard, where they will enjoy our award-winning Hawaiian hospitality in the comfort of our newest aircraft.”

Flight 69 will depart LGB every day at 8:30 a.m. and arrive in Honolulu at 11:40 a.m. The return flight – HA 70 – leaves Honolulu at 12:30 p.m. and is back in Long Beach at 9 p.m.

The jets are part of a new fleet of narrow-body A321neo aircraft. The airliners will take West Coast guests to more islands with new routes. One added recently is between Kahului (OGG) on Maui and Oakland (OAK). Also, service between Portland (PDX) and OGG began Jan. 18. Flights between OAK and Lihu‘e (LIH) on Kaua‘i will start on April 11. And trips from Los Angeles (LAX) to Kona (KOA) on the Island of Hawaii will launch this coming summer.

“The highly efficient, mid-range A321neo aircraft complement Hawaiian’s fleet of wide-body aircraft currently used for service between Hawaii and 11 U.S. gateway cities, along with 10 international destinations,” a company press release states. “Hawaiian’s 189-passenger A321neo includes 16 luxurious leather recliners in first class, 44 extra comfort premium economy seats and 129 economy seats.

“In addition to Hawaiian’s warm hospitality, including complimentary meals, guests will enjoy wireless streaming in-flight entertainment on Hawaiian Skies channel, access to USB outlets and additional overhead stowage space.”

In its 89th year of continuous service, Hawaiian Airlines is touted as Hawaii’s biggest and longest-serving airline.

“LGB now has one more nonstop choice to both a popular leisure destination and one that will offer connections to international markets like Asia and Australia,” Airport Director Jess Romo said in a statement. “The charm of your vacation can start here at Long Beach Airport well before arriving in Hawaii, with a walk through LGB’s open concourse and its swaying palms and lush landscape.”

An LGB press release describes the Airbus A321neo aircraft as being “the latest in engine technology and is among the quietest and most efficient aircraft currently flying.”

Mayor Robert Garcia expressed excitement over the airline’s announcement.

“We are thrilled that Hawaiian Airlines has selected Long Beach Airport as a new way to get to Honolulu and connect to nearby islands,” he said in a statement. “There’s now no easier way to get to Hawaii than from in Long Beach.”

LGB spokeswoman Stephanie Montuya-Morisky explained through email how it came to be that Hawaiian arrived at Long Beach:

“The airport maintains a waiting list of carriers interested in providing service at LGB. Per the Long Beach Airport Noise Compatibility Ordinance, as flight slots become available, carriers on the list are notified and provided the opportunity to accept the slot based on their position on the list. An existing air carrier, JetBlue, recently returned one permanent flight slot to LGB and Hawaiian Airlines was first in line on the waiting list to receive a slot.”

She said Hawaiian Airlines will have one permanent slot at the airport.

“Currently, JetBlue has 35 slots,” she said. “They reduced their slot usage from 35 to 34 starting on May 31, 2018.”

Aside from Hawaiian and JetBlue, other airlines that fly out of Long Beach include American Airlines, Delta and Southwest.

Lakewood residents Edward and Linda De Groot went to Hawaii this past fall and travel to the tropical paradise about every five years. They normally use LAX but will consider Long Beach in the future, if the price is good.

“It’s more convenient,” Edward De Groot said.

“It would be great,” said wife Linda Bloom-De Groot. “Our last trip to Hawaii, I wanted to book out of Long Beach, but Hawaiian didn’t fly out there in October.”

kirt@beachcomber.news