Hawaiian Airlines is resuming its service to the Cook Islands, making it the only U.S. carrier to connect with the South Pacific destination.
Service will start up again on May 20, 2023, with a weekly flight between Honolulu and the Cook Islands”™ capital of Rarotonga. Hawaiian previously served the Cook Islands from 1987 through 1993, which has international air service Air New Zealand and the Australian-headquartered Jetstar Airways.
“As a 93-year-old destination airline committed to sustainability, Hawaiian Airlines is a perfect partner for the Cook Islands,” said Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown in a press statement. “We welcome this timely announcement from Hawaiian Airlines, as we look to rebuild our tourism industry and strengthen access to our northern hemisphere markets. Inbound tourism is a key economic driver for our nation, and to reach our potential we need access from the larger international markets. Hawaiian’s Honolulu-Rarotonga service connects us to Los Angeles, the Pacific Northwest, and many other large U.S. Mainland cities.”
“We are delighted to grow our South Pacific network by offering our guests access to the Cook Islands, an archipelago that shares Hawai’i’s Polynesian roots and natural beauty,” said Peter Ingram, Hawaiian Airlines president and CEO. “This service greatly expands travel opportunities between the Cook Islands and the United States, thanks to our well-timed connections and robust network, including service between Hawai’i and eight California cities.”
