The University of Hawai‘i Rainbow Warriors football team now travels on charter flights with Hawaiian Airlines, following a new deal announced in late June and July 2025. This change aims to improve travel for athletes and staff, starting with the 2025 football season.
The Rainbow Warriors have already used Hawaiian Airlines’ A321-271N aircraft for road games, including a recent trip to Fresno, California. The agreement covers only the football program for now, which is the university’s largest and most complex team. According to Athletic Director Craig Angelos, the university chose this charter model to make travel easier, reduce athlete fatigue, and save money.
Hawaiian Airlines, the main airline for Hawai‘i, provides these charter flights with flexible schedules, direct routes, and special in-flight services for the team. Players and staff report that the switch to charter flights has made travel more comfortable, cut down on travel time, and caused less disruption to their classes.
Cost and Travel Improvements
- Annual savings: The university expects to save about $70,000 per year on travel costs compared to using regular commercial flights.
- Shorter trips: The team now leaves one day later than before, so athletes spend less time away from campus.
- Direct flights: Charter flights go straight to the game location, so the team avoids long bus rides from faraway airports. Some trips that used to take over 12 hours now take much less time.
How the Charter Flights Work
- The university works directly with Hawaiian Airlines’ charter division to plan each trip.
- The team can choose departure and arrival times that fit their game schedule.
- Charter flights can go to places not served by regular flights.
- In-flight services include team-branded items and special meals.
Impact on Student-Athletes
- Fewer missed classes: With less travel time, athletes miss fewer school days, which helps them keep up with their studies.
- Less fatigue: Players say they feel less tired and have more time to recover after games.
Background and Reason for Change
Before 2025, the Rainbow Warriors mostly used commercial flights, which often meant long, multi-leg trips and overnight stays. The NCAA lets Hawai‘i play one extra game each season because of its unique travel needs, but travel was still a big challenge. The move to charter flights was based on cost, athlete health, and keeping up with other top football programs, which mostly use charters.
Looking Ahead
- The university may expand charter flights to other teams, like men’s and women’s basketball, if budgets allow.
- The deal will be reviewed after the 2025 season, with a chance for longer or bigger agreements.
- This change could inspire other schools in hard-to-reach places to try similar travel solutions.
As reported by VisaVerge.com, the partnership between the Rainbow Warriors and Hawaiian Airlines is seen as a smart investment in both athlete well-being and the university’s future. For more details about charter services, visit the official Hawaiian Airlines Charter Services page. This new travel model helps the Rainbow Warriors stay competitive while supporting their academic and athletic goals.
Learn Today
Charter Flights → Flights arranged exclusively for a specific group, allowing flexible schedules and direct routes.
A321-271N → A model of aircraft used by Hawaiian Airlines, suitable for medium-range flights with advanced efficiency.
Athletic Director → University official responsible for managing sports programs and related operations.
NCAA → National Collegiate Athletic Association, the governing body for college sports in the United States.
In-flight Services → Special amenities provided during flights, such as branded items and custom meals for teams.
This Article in a Nutshell
Starting 2025, University of Hawai‘i’s Rainbow Warriors football team flies on charter flights by Hawaiian Airlines. This improves travel by cutting costs $70,000 yearly, reducing fatigue, and decreasing missed classes. Direct flights and flexible schedules support athlete performance and academic success, setting a new standard for collegiate sports travel.
— By VisaVerge.com
