Hawaiian outlines 2014 goals: mature long-haul markets and begin work to shore-up its balance sheet

Mastery is the buzzword of choice for executives at Hawaiian Airlines as the carrier heads into 2014 aiming to drastically slow its capacity growth and turns a sharp focus on maturing a number of new long-haul markets it has rapidly introduced during the past three years.

In tandem with the slower capacity growth, Hawaiian's capital commitments are winding down as it takes delivery of its last Airbus A330 widebody in 2015. The company expects to turn a corner that year by generating positive free cash flow to improve its financial leverage.

For management and investors alike, the slowdown and shift of focus to ensuring new routes reach profitability is likely a welcome change from the frenetic expansion Hawaiian has undertaken since 2010, when it started down a path of introducing 10 new long-haul markets that will culminate with new service from Honolulu to Beijing, scheduled to launch in Apr-2014. Hawaiian faces specific challenges in each of its long-haul geographies that it needs to overcome, but executives remain bullish that the company's network diversification strategy will deliver favourable results over the long term.