Hawaiian Airlines said it will launch its new Philippines service April 14 with roundtrip fares starting at $848.

The state's largest airline said it will fly four flights a week to Manila's Ninoy Aquino International Airport, in what will be the airline's first foray into the Asia market.

"We see the Philippines economy growing and we are clearly aware of the strong ties between Hawai'i and the Philippines," said Mark Dunkerley, Hawaiian's chief executive officer.

"We see this market growing for a number of years."

The new service will allow the airline to recall about 11 furloughed pilots and hire 41 flight attendants, Hawaiian has said.

Hawaiian will use a 264-seat Boeing 767-300ER aircraft for the 10-hour flights. The aircraft is one of the seven 767-300ERs used on the airline's trans-Pacific routes to Sydney, Australia; Pago Pago, American Samoa; and Papeete, Tahiti.

Hawaiian will be the only U.S. domestic airline to fly nonstop between Honolulu and Manila. Only one carrier, Philippine Airlines, flies directly to Manila, with three weekly flights.

Hawaiian's $848 initial roundtrip fare compares with Philippine Airlines' $1,000.

The new flights could more than double the number of passengers flying between Honolulu and Manila.

According to Hawaiian, about 170,000 people traveled between Hawai'i and Manila last year.

Hawaiian said flights will depart Honolulu International Airport on Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 12:30 p.m. and arrive in Manila the following day at 5:15 p.m.

Return flights will leave Manila on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays at 7 p.m. and will arrive in Honolulu on the same day at 11:15 a.m.

Reach Rick Daysog at rdaysog@honoluluadvertiser.com.