Hawaiian Airlines Flies High Under Peter Ingram’s Leadership, S2E1
The president and CEO of Hawaiian Airlines describes the company’s plans to fly Amazon packages, install high-speed Wi-Fi on its planes, and implement a new passenger service system.
Peter Ingram happily describes himself as an “airline guy,” a title he’s held for the last 30 years.
Born and raised in Toronto, Ingram originally worked in financial services. He pivoted to the airline industry after being hooked by American Airlines’ philosophy that prioritizes curiosity and problem-solving among new hires over knowledge of the industry.
“If you want to really be as successful as you can be, whatever your capabilities are, you want to be passionate about it and you’ve got to be excited about it,” he says.
He worked for American Airlines and its regional subsidiary for 11 years and joined Hawaiian Airlines as its chief financial officer in 2005, right after it emerged from its second bankruptcy. He became executive vice president and chief commercial officer in 2011 and then president and CEO in 2018.
During Ingram’s 17-year tenure, Hawaiian Airlines has expanded its fleet of airplanes from 25 to 61, more than doubled its number of employees to more than 7,000, expanded its service to 29 destinations, and become an industry leader in on-time performance and customer service.
“I think sometimes our competitors really underestimate us; they think a little carrier from Hawai‘i isn’t going to be able to compete with big global carriers,” he says. “And we’re going to prove them wrong again because we have fantastic employees, and they do a great job.”
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Founded in 1919 as a two-car repair garage on the North Shore of Oʻahu, Servco Pacific Inc. is Hawaiʻi’s largest private company with operations in the United States and Australia. Guided by a value-driven business model, Servco Pacific owns a diverse group of businesses in automotive distribution and retail, car sharing, musical instruments, and venture capital. As the company’s journey of innovation continues, Servco Pacific is evolving to provide mobility solutions to serve the needs of its customers and communities in Hawaiʻi and beyond.
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