Posted on: Wednesday, October 3, 2001

Island Air increases flights

Advertiser Staff and News Nervices

Aloha Airlines' sister company, Island Air, has increased its schedule to 54 flights a day, adding service from Kahului to the Big Island.

Island Air, Aloha's island hopper service that flies small propeller aircraft, began offering three flights a day from Kahului to Kona, with two via L?na'i and one via Moloka'i, earlier this week. Two flights a day will go from Kahului to Hilo via Moloka'i. Island Air also has one daily flight from Kona to Kapalua, West Maui.

The new flights come after Aloha cut its schedule by 26 percent last month in response to decreased passenger loads following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Before the cuts, Island Air had only 38 flights a day. Island Air is offering a free return trip for passengers who pay to travel between Maui and the Big Island from now to Dec. 15.

Meanwhile, Aloha Airlines said it will reopen curbside check-in, starting today in Honolulu from 8 a.m. to noon. Curbside check-in will be available on Maui from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. starting tomorrow, and on Kaua'i Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., starting Friday. Kona is under review, a spokesman said.