Hawaiian continues to embrace challenges in reaping rewards from its network diversification

Hawaiian Airlines is still awaiting the rewards of network diversification it undertook a few years ago with the launch of several new Asian routes along with flights to Auckland and Brisbane. The effort was designed to offset Hawaiian's dependence on service to the US mainland, which has become increasingly competitive during the last few years.

The rapid-fire route introductions have been plagued by currency weakness in Japan, retaliatory competitive capacity additions and Hawaiian's spooling up in understanding the distinctive nuances of each market. At the same time overcapacity in its North American markets - which still comprise the majority of its revenues - continues to pressure Hawaiian's performance.

As those challenges continue to cast a spectre on Hawaiian's performance, the carrier has reversed its fortunes within its inter-island network, which weakened during 2012 when Hawaiian made a push from Maui and overestimated the capacity it needed to build a hub in Kahului.