Hawaiian Ranks #1 in 2006 for On-Time Performance, Baggage Handling

HONOLULU, Feb. 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Hawaiian Airlines again led the nation's carriers in overall performance against key consumer measures for 2006, ranking #1 nationally for punctuality and baggage handling, while finishing in the top four for fewest oversales and cancellations in the latest U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Air Travel Consumer Report, issued today.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20040827/LAF044LOGO)

    This marked the third consecutive year that Hawaiian recorded the best
on-time results and top overall performance of all carriers ranked, as well as
the second straight year Hawaiian finished at the top of the industry for
baggage handling.



    Rank  On-Time     Baggage       Fewest        Fewest
          Service     Handling     Oversales   Cancellations
    1     HAWAIIAN    HAWAIIAN      JetBlue      Frontier
    2     Frontier    JetBlue       AirTran      JetBlue
    3     Southwest   Northwest     HAWAIIAN     Continental
    4     US Airways  AirTran       Frontier     HAWAIIAN
    5     SkyWest     Continental   United       AirTran

Mark Dunkerley, president and CEO of Hawaiian Airlines, commented, "Hawaiian's #1 ranking as America's most punctual airline for the third year running is testament to the pride and professionalism of our employees."

Hawaiian had the best on-time performance rankings for 10 out of 12 months in 2006, with 93.8 percent of its flights arriving on schedule for the entire year. Hawaiian -- which holds the industry record of 36 consecutive months as the nation's #1 on-time airline -- finished the year 13.1 percentage points ahead of second-place Frontier Airlines and eclipsed the industry average of 75.4 percent by a remarkable 18.4 percentage points. (To meet DOT standards, a flight must arrive within 15 minutes of schedule to be considered on time.)

Hawaiian was also the nation's best airline in 2006 at taking care of its customers' luggage with just 3.14 mishandled baggage reports for every 1,000 passengers carried. Hawaiian ranked #1 for eight months of the year, including six consecutive months from May through October. JetBlue Airways was second at 4.09 mishandled baggage reports for every 1,000 passengers.

For the second straight year, Hawaiian recorded the industry's third-best record for fewest oversales, with only 79 involuntary denied boardings out of 6.2 million passengers in 2006, resulting in a score of 0.13 percent for every 10,000 passengers. JetBlue Airways and AirTran Airways finished one-two ahead of Hawaiian in the oversales category.

Hawaiian had the fourth best score for fewest cancelled flights during the year at 0.5 percent representing 253 cancellations out of 52,173 total flights, trailing Frontier Airlines, JetBlue Airways and Continental Airlines.

In addition, Hawaiian ranked eighth overall for fewest consumer complaints in 2006, with a score of 0.64 percent for every 100,000 passengers served, despite being the subject of only 40 complaints out of 6.2 million passengers served.

The DOT report covers 20 airlines, including 10 carriers providing service to Hawaii. The report for December is available online at http://airconsumer.ost.dot.gov/reports/atcr07.htm.

About Hawaiian Airlines

Hawaiian Airlines, holder of a record 36 consecutive months as America's most punctual airline, has consistently led the nation's carriers in on-time schedule performance and fewest misplaced bags in 2005 and 2006 (as reported by the U.S. Department of Transportation). Consumer surveys by Conde Nast Traveler, Travel + Leisure, and Zagat all rank Hawaiian as the top domestic airline serving Hawaii.

Now in its 78th year of continuous service in Hawaii, Hawaiian is the state's biggest and longest-serving airline, as well as the second largest provider of passenger air service between the U.S. mainland and Hawaii. Hawaiian offers nonstop service to Hawaii from more U.S. gateway cities than any other airline (nine), as well as service to Australia, American Samoa and Tahiti. Hawaiian also provides approximately 100 daily jet flights among the Hawaiian Islands.

Hawaiian Airlines, Inc. is a subsidiary of Hawaiian Holdings, Inc. (Amex: HA; PCX). Additional information is available at HawaiianAirlines.com.