Hawaiian Has Seoul

When I think of flying to an exotic international location, the airlines that I think of taking are typically some of the bigger names: American Airlines, Air France, Lufthansa, etc. The likes of Hawaiian Airlines doesn't really float to the surface of my brainstorm. Sure, they'd be an option for me if I were looking to catch a few golden rays on Waikiki Beach but if I want to see the Opera House in Sydney, or eat some of the freshest sushi money can buy in Tokyo, Hawaiian wouldn't seem like an option. Maybe it should though.....

Recently the airline announced that it is seeking to begin service to Seoul's Incheon airport, which serves as South Korea's gateway to the world. While it might seem odd on the surface, there seems to be some data that supports the airline's decision. In November of 2008, the United States granted visa-free visits to citizens of South Korea, making vacations to Hawaii much easier. The Hawaiian Tourism Authority recorded a 44% increase in visitors from Korea in 2009 and estimates that with direct service from Honolulu to Seoul, the state can expect additional revenue near $74 million per year. That's not chump change, especially with the recent downturn in the economy and how it has effected Hawaii's tourist industry. Seoul's Incheon serves as a hub destination for travelers throughout Asia as well, so the net increase from other Asian countries has the potential to increase in kind.

Hawaiian Airlines isn't new to the international flying market though. Just recently they were awarded tentative approval to fly from Honolulu to Tokyo's Haneda airport. While the option to fly to Tokyo's more well known Narita facility was always available, Haneda is much closer to Tokyo, making it a more convenient option for Japanese travelers. Additionally, Hawaiian flies internationally to Manila in the Philippines, Sydney in Australia, and Papeete, French Polynesia. While not technically international, Hawaiian has flights to Pago Pago in the southern Pacific's American Samoa. Clearly these routes are designed to facility the movement of tourists from their homes to Hawaii or from other tourist destinations. To a Hawaiian resident or innovative traveler it also opens the possibility of seeing some far flung destinations in a unique manner. Sure, you can take a 12 hour flight from Los Angeles to Tokyo in a single trip, but what's the fun in that? Fly, or stop over, in Honolulu for a spell!