Eight Hawaiian Airlines employees, who recently attended flight attendant training at the airline’s headquarters in Honolulu, tested positive for coronavirus this week after feeling ill.
Hawaii spokesman Alex Da Silva confirmed today that two stewardess trainers and six hostesses were receiving training among those infected.
“We are supporting our team members in their recovery, helping to contact anyone who may have been at risk of exposure, and reinforcing our office protocols to keep our employees safe,” said Da Silva.
Da Silva said the source of the infection is still being investigated.
“Only one flight attendant worked a flight last week, before developing symptoms. We have provided information on each case to public health agencies to support any notification they deem necessary, ”he said.
Hawaii Department of Health officials today reported 20 new cases of coronavirus, bringing the total number of infections statewide to 946. Today’s new cases include 17 on Oahu and three on the island of Hawaii, according to the count. department noon newspaper. Hawaii has 182 active infections as of today.
The new cases on Hawaiian Airlines occur as the airline prepares to resume most of its continental US routes and increase the hours on its neighboring island. Hawaiian had significantly reduced its service amid declining travel demand due to fears of COVID-19 and tourist closings, which began in Hawaii in mid-March and even earlier for some of the international destinations served by the airline.
Hawaiian’s decision to add more services follows Governor David Ige’s announcement last week that starting August 1, the state would allow passengers with approved negative COVID-19 tests taken within 72 hours of their trip to Hawaii, bypass the state’s mandatory 14 days. quarantine for passengers from other states. The out-of-state quarantine runs through July 31 and is expected to extend for those without approved negative coronavirus tests.
The carrier said it will begin service once a day between Honolulu and Portland on Wednesday. It will add a once-a-day service to San Diego and Sacramento on July 15.
As of August 1, the carrier said it plans to restore nonstop service from six continental US cities to Honolulu, including Boston, New York, Las Vegas, Phoenix, San Jose, and Oakland. Hawaiian said it also plans to resume some routes from the US west coast island to the neighboring with its narrow-body Airbus A321neo aircraft, including Los Angeles, Oakland, San Francisco, San Jose and Sacramento to Kahului, Maui; Los Angeles and Oakland to Lihue, Kauai; and Los Angeles to Kona on the island of Hawaii.
Starting August 6, Hawaiian plans to resume weekly service between Honolulu and American Samoa.
Some Hawaii residents and legislators are concerned that the second wave of coronavirus cases may occur with the broader reopening of travel. However, others, especially members of the visitor industry, expect safe travel to resume quickly so that the state can begin to heal from the dire economic consequences of stopping tourism.
The Hawaii Tourism Authority reported Monday that visitor arrivals by air in May fell 99% to 9,116 visitors compared to May 2019, when 841,376 arrivals arrived in Hawaii by plane and cruise. Cruises have not returned to Hawaii since they stopped service in the early days of the Hawaii pandemic.
Hawaiian said its new service will resume under the new comprehensive health and safety program, which includes the use of facial coatings, on-board and airport spaces, and improved cleaning measures, adopted by the airline in May.
