India, July 2 -- In her new Honolulu-based role, Kobayashi will lead airport operations for Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines in Hawaii and the North and South Pacific, once the carriers obtain a single operating certificate later this year.

Kobayashi - who will oversee more than 1,500 airport employees across the Hawaiian Islands in addition to teams in Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, the Cook Islands, Tahiti and American Samoa - is among several Hawaiian Airlines leaders expanding their areas of responsibility to support the combined airline's growth in Hawaii and globally.

Kobayashi has 20 years of experience with Hawaiian Airlines, most recently serving as managing director of airport operations planning, where she drove op...