Hawaiian Airlines Celebrates 94 Years of Service with Special Flight

Hawaiian Airlines marked its impressive 94th anniversary on October 6, 2023, in a special celebration that paid homage to its history. The airline, which is the tenth-largest commercial airline in the United States and a prominent provider of flights to and from Hawaii, commemorated this milestone with a unique flight and a distinguished guest. Ben Lee, who holds the distinction of being the youngest passenger to board an airplane in 1929, was invited to join a ceremonial flight in honor of this significant anniversary.

The commemorative flight aimed to recreate the inaugural commercial flight of Hawaiian Airlines, which was originally known as Inter-Island Airways Ltd. On October 6, 1929, two amphibious Sikorsky-S38 aircraft embarked on a journey from John Rodgers Airport in Honolulu to Hilo Airport, with a stopover at Ma’alaea Airport on Maui. This historic flight, which took three hours and 15 minutes to complete, was a far cry from today’s one-hour flight time.

At the remarkable age of 94, Ben Lee, who was just 11 months old when he first flew with Hawaiian Airlines, became the youngest passenger ever to travel with the airline. Mr. Lee is also a distinguished veteran of both World War II and the Korean War. To celebrate this memorable occasion, he and his grandson embarked on a tour of Oahu’s attractions, flying in a Bellanca CH-300, the same type of aircraft he had traveled on 94 years ago.

Hawaiian Airlines has played a pivotal role in serving Hawaii and sharing its rich culture and hospitality with travelers from around the world since 1929. The airline boasts an exemplary safety record and consistently ranks among the top American carriers for its punctuality and customer satisfaction. Furthermore, Hawaiian Airlines remains committed to testing and adopting various technologies and innovations aimed at enhancing the sustainability, efficiency, safety, and overall passenger experience in the aviation industry.

Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, msn.com, hawaiianairlines.com