Hello and welcome to today's independent travel podcast with me, Simon Calder. It's Wednesday the 22nd of April.

And that means it's a very exciting day for the One World Alliance. Of course, that is the alliance of which British Airways is a notable partner.

And being an alliance, it brings all sorts of benefits for travellers who are able to have smooth connections with a number of partner airlines.

And I'm talking to the chief executive today of one of those new partners, Hawaiian Airlines.

She is Diana Burkett Racco, and Diana, I'm going to have to say,

Good morning to you because I'm recording this in the evening.

It's first thing in the morning where you are.

Good morning. Aloha.

Thank you. What a lovely greeting.

So I'd like to know a little bit about the Hawaiian Airlines heritage.

So Hawaiian Airlines is 96 years old. We started off flying between the neighbor islands of Hawaii.

And we have evolved into a global airline. and now we are part of Alaska Air Group,

which is the fifth largest. Together, we are the fifth largest airline in the United States.

Hawaii, we are keeping both distinct brands, Alaska Airlines, which is largely a U.S.

domestic and now international carrier, and Hawaiian Airlines, also a global

carrier connecting across the Pacific. And Hawaiian Airlines is really rooted in the place and culture of

Hawaii. So we talk about connecting people with Aloha. We want your experience visiting Hawaii

to begin the moment you step on board

with the warm, genuine hospitality of our team with Hawaiian flavors and local products on board

and using language and culture to share our place, Hawaii, with our visitors.

You also make it very easy to hop from one island to another.

Can you just kind of paint a very quick portrait?

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