Source: Hawaiian Airlines

  • Alaska Air Group today announced the Honolulu leadership team that will oversee Hawaiian Airlines and Alaska Airlines’ industry-leading combined operations in Hawai‘i.

Summary

  1. Jim Landers, Hawaiian Airlines senior vice president of technical operations, will assume the role of head of Hawai‘i operations.
  2. A head of Hawai‘i guest operations position will soon be named and will join the Honolulu leadership team this fall when the single operating certificate is acquired.

Alaska Air Group announced the Honolulu leadership team that will oversee Hawaiian Airlines and Alaska Airlines’ industry-leading combined operations in Hawai‘i once the carriers obtain a single operating certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration this fall.

Honolulu is the company’s second-largest hub after Seattle, with more than 6,500 Hawaiʻi-based employees who each day welcome onboard thousands of residents and visitors, and move cargo, between the Neighbor Islands and on domestic and international transpacific routes served by more than 180 daily flights – the biggest Hawai‘i network of any carrier. The Honolulu leadership team will support several thousand frontline employees in the islands while also managing ongoing integration work, including the rollout of a combined loyalty program launching this fall and the adoption of a single passenger service system next spring.

Jim Landers, Hawaiian Airlines senior vice president of technical operations, will assume the role of head of Hawai‘i operations. Reporting to Hawaiian Airlines CEO Joe Sprague, he will be responsible for safety and operational performance while supporting all aspects of the combined operations in the islands. A decorated U.S. Navy veteran, Landers joined Hawaiian in 2013 and currently oversees the airline’s system operations control functions, flight operations, maintenance and engineering, and supply chain management.

Other core members of the company’s Honolulu leadership team include:

Alisa Onishi, managing director of marketing for Hawaiʻi

Onishi, who joined Hawaiian Airlines in 2011, will lead marketing and brand management for Hawaiian, and the organization’s multi-brand marketing strategy and cross-brand uniform program. She will also focus on ongoing enhancements to Hawaiian’s guest experience in partnership with the Guest Products and Experience team.

Daniel Chun, managing director, Hawaiʻi public affairs and sales

Chun, with 14 years of leadership experience at Alaska Airlines in Hawai‘i, will lead the combined company’s community and cultural relations, government affairs and sales team in Hawai‘i.

Jonathan Goo, safety director

A member of the Alaska Air Group Safety team, Goo, who has 20 years of service with Hawaiian Airlines, will provide critical safety guidance and oversight for the company’s operations in the islands.

Melodi Pieper, human resources regional director

A member of both the Honolulu and Alaska Air Group People leadership teams, Pieper, a 26-year Hawaiian Airlines employee, will support Hawaiʻi employees and leaders in the areas of benefits, career development, employee engagement, culture and team development.

A head of Hawai‘i guest operations position will soon be named and will join the Honolulu leadership team this fall when the single operating certificate is acquired.

“Hawaiʻi will always be Hawaiian Airlines’ home, and I’m so proud to serve alongside our Honolulu leadership team and our 6,500-plus team members in the islands to build on Hawaiian’s 95-year legacy of providing safe, reliable and enjoyable service to our communities. We all look forward to continuing to deliver greater value to our kama‘āina and visitors through our expanding, joint network with Alaska Airlines, a new combined loyalty program arriving in October, and much more in the months and years ahead,” said Joe Sprague, Hawaiian Airlines CEO.

To further support the company’s expanding presence in the islands, several other Hawaiian Airlines leaders have recently been appointed to Hawai‘i-based positions reporting to the Honolulu leadership team.

Beau Tatsumura has been named managing director, Hawai‘i, international and heavy maintenance. He is responsible for maintenance operations in Hawai‘i, Asia and the South Pacific, while also overseeing heavy maintenance for Alaska Airlines. Tatsumura joined Hawaiian in 2014 and is currently responsible for the performance, quality and reliability of Hawaiian’s fleet.

Earlier this month, Monica Kobayashi was appointed to managing director of airport operations and customer service. With 20 years of experience at Hawaiian, Kobayashi will support more than 1,500 airport employees across the Hawaiian Islands, in addition to teams in Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, the Cook Islands, Tahiti and American Samoa.