Hawaiian Airline sets NZ fares

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Hawaiian Airlines will charge $1468 for its cheapest fare on its new service between Auckland and Honolulu due to start in March next year.

Hawaiian announced the three times a week service last week, breaking Air New Zealand monopoly.

Its return fares under cut Air New Zealand by about $76 for the nine-hour flights in March, including meals and checked luggage.

Air New Zealand offers in-seat video screens in economy, while Hawaiian's aircraft have a main cabin screen, or passengers can hire a portable DVD player.

Hawaiian Airlines chief executive Mark Dunkerley said Hawaii had been "difficult to access due to inconvenient schedules and a shortage of nonstop flights" from New Zealand.

Its 264-seat Boeing 767 service, similar to Air New Zealand, will double the seats on the route to about 80,000 a year after Air New Zealand adds a third weekly flight from October.

Hawaiian's flights will leave Auckland just before midnight on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday for a 9.45 am arrival.

The return journey to Auckland depart on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 1.45pm and arrive at 9.55pm.Air New Zealand flies to Honolulu on Tuesday, Saturday and Sunday, departing at 10.30am and returns on Monday, Friday and Saturday departing at 9.45pm

Hawaii is two hours ahead of New Zealand but on the previous day, or 22 hours behind New Zealand time.

- © Fairfax NZ News