America's bloodiest day
Stranded travelers in holding pattern

By Frank Cho
Advertiser Staff Writer

Thousands of travelers stranded Tuesday in Honolulu after the Federal Aviation Administration shut down the nation's air traffic system remained at their hotels yesterday when the FAA failed to clear any of their flights to leave the Islands.

Ticket holders on China Airlines bound for Tokyo and Taipei went to Honolulu airport yesterday, only to be told that the airport would be closed at least another day. Bruce Asato • The Honolulu Advertiser

"We were at full staffing to make sure if it does happen we would be ready," said Susan Bredo, director of marketing and communications for the Mauna Lani Bay Hotel and Bungalows.

The Mauna Lani is housing about 280 Japan Airlines passengers on the Big Island who were diverted there from Honolulu when the FAA shut down the normally bustling Honolulu International Airport on Tuesday.

Bredo said JAL has told the hotel it plans to fly those passengers to Honolulu later today.

Marilyn Kali, spokeswoman for the Hawai'i Department of Transportation, said yesterday's planned resumption of flights to the U.S. Mainland and Asia were on hold until airports there were certified to be meeting intensified security measures.

In at least one false start, officials at China Airlines and All Nippon Airways initially thought they would receive permission to fly to Japan and moved several hundred passengers from their hotels to the airport around mid-day.

But by 2:30 p.m., airline officials told passengers their flights would not be leaving and moved those passengers back to their hotels.

"We heard that flight might be going out and called our contact and they said, 'No way,' " said BJ Whitman, a spokeswoman for the Sheraton Waikiki. "We advised (hotel guests) upon their departure that the airport was still not open, but I just think they were anxious to fly home and wanted to see for themselves."

Murray Towill, president of the Hawai'i Hotel Association, said the extended stay should not be a problem for the hotel industry.

"I think everybody is more or less in the holding pattern and waiting," Towill said. "Things have gone pretty well and we were fortunate there was sufficient room for the people that were on flights diverted here."

Towill said the industry expects a couple of thousand passengers to check out of island hotels over the next few days, but understands that travel restrictions may mean hotels will not have newly arriving visitors to fill those rooms.

"Obviously, we would like to see people coming in and replacing those that are leaving, but we will have to wait and see what happens," Towill said.