Hawaiian Airlines this week rolled out a series of trading cards and other collectibles meant to celebrate its crew members, aircraft, and unique cultural heritage.
Starting Wednesday, passengers can ask pilots for one of four trading cards, each featuring one of Hawaiian’s four aircraft – the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, 717, Airbus A321neo, and A330. The cards are printed on rainbow foil board for a “Hawaiian-inspired shine” and come with facts about the aircraft and space for a pilot’s signature.
The cards are meant to foster connection between Hawaiian’s employees and passengers and inspire interest in flying careers, the airline said.
Also available are 66 digital trading cards, one for each individual aircraft in Hawaiian’s fleet. Customers can collect them by scanning an NFC tag on the name plate of their aircraft upon boarding, which adds the card to a digital binder.
The cards contain information about the aircraft and the origin of its name. Hawaiian’s 717s are named after native birds, its 787s and A330s after stars or constellations used by Polynesian voyagers for celestial navigation, and its A321neos after native plants and forests.
“Not only are we introducing something completely new by becoming the first airline to offer a digital card program, but our employees also get an exciting new opportunity to engage with guests, inspire future aviators, and share our islands’ rich culture in a meaningful and memorable way,” said Alisa Onishi, head of marketing for Hawaiian, in a news release.
Hawaiian is also offering “Keiki Wings,” or “Children’s Wings,” with Hawaiian’s logo and the words “Future Crew” on them. Children and their parents can request the small badge from flight attendants.
Hawaiian is no longer its own airline but a brand of Alaska Airlines, which secured a single operating certificate late last month. Alaska leaders have said they will maintain the separate brand and recently appointed Honolulu-based executives to support its operations and marketing.
