Peter Ingram on leading Hawaiian Airlines amid fierce competition | Airline Business [Video]

On a recent sunny morning in Honolulu, the red 1929 Bellanca CH-300 Pacemaker’s 450hp Pratt & Whitney engine thunders to life and the vintage aircraft taxis to runway 4R at Daniel K Inouye international airport. Within minutes, N251M is airborne over the sandy beaches and the lush tropical foliage that have made Hawaii one of the most beloved holiday destinations in the world.

The iconic six-seat Bellanca is the most tangible evidence of Hawaiian Airlines’ 90-year legacy, connecting the carrier’s past to its future. The airframe was the first to be acquired by Inter-Island Airways, Hawaiian’s predecessor, and its mission in the waning days of the roaring 1920s was to introduce locals to the wonders of air travel.

Fast forward to the present, Hawaiian’s chief executive, Peter Ingram, is keenly aware …