Australian low-cost carrier Jetstar Airways will offer up to three flights per week from Brisbane to Honolulu in Hawaii, USA from December this year, subject to government approval. The airline’s second long-haul route from Brisbane will commence from December 15, 2014 and will be operated initially by an Airbus A330, before being switched to a Boeing 787 Dreamliner in the future.

The budget carrier has been serving Hawaii since December 2006 when it introduced flights to the destination from Melbourne and Sydney: the Melbourne link was closed from November 2007 but was resumed in December 2012, according to schedule data. This new Brisbane link will be operated up to three times a week during the peak season with two weekly services in the off peak and will bring competition to the existing Hawaiian Airlines non-stop service on the route.

Hawaiian Airlines introduced flights in November 2012 continuing a route that was previously served by Australian carrier Strategic Airlines in December 2011 but which was suspended in March 2012 after the airline’s closure. According to MIDT data, an estimated 63,000 bi-directional O&D passengers flew on the city pair in 2013, up 56.7 per cent on the previous year.

“Hawaii is one of the most popular destinations on our network and we’re delighted to be giving more Aussies the chance to experience this part of the world,” said David Hall, chief executive officer, Jetstar Australia and New Zealand. “This new service is part of Jetstar’s mission to deliver more choice for customers and allow them to travel to more places than ever before. With the addition of this new connection from Brisbane, Jetstar offers more seats from Brisbane and Queensland than any other low fares carrier.”

The new Honolulu route will be the second wide body service from Brisbane following the start of direct services to Bali later this month, operated by the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. The new link means up to 1,212 additional return seats will be available each week between Hawaii and Brisbane increasing choice, flexibility and competition for all.

“This announcement is more good news for Queensland and Brisbane with travellers given more options than ever before to take off and enjoy one of the world’s most iconic island nations,” said Julieanne Alroe, managing director, Brisbane Airport Corporation. “Pledging valuable aircraft and staff resources to a new destination or route is a huge commitment and I am confident these new services will be warmly embraced by locals and tourists alike.”

Minister for Tourism, Major Events, Small Business and the Commonwealth Games, Jann Stuckey also welcomed the announcement of Jetstar’s new route from Queensland saying these additional direct flights had the potential to entice thousands of extra visitors to the region every year.

“The Newman Government is working hard to maximise visitor numbers to the State to reach our goal of doubling annual overnight visitor expenditure from $15 billion to $30 billion by 2020. This new aviation route from Honolulu into Brisbane will offer travellers more holiday choices and boost tourism to our great state,” she said.

In our analysis below we look in greater detail at O&D demand between Australia and the Hawaiian Islands. According to traffic data demand for flights in this market has grown by 215.8 per cent over the past ten years from approximately 158,000 passengers in 2003 to just below 500,000 last year. In the chart below we look at the five largest carriers in this market during the ten year period and their respective shares of the demand.