Posted on: Tuesday, August 13, 2002

United boosts service to Big Island

Advertiser Staff

United Airlines will begin seasonal Saturday service between Denver and Kona starting Dec. 14, boosting service again to the Big Island.

The carrier said yesterday that the service will run through April 27.

"The new flights between Denver and Kona nicely complement our existing weekend service between Denver and Honolulu and show our continued commitment to Denver and to the great state of Hawai'i," said Sean Donohue, United Airlines vice president of North America sales.

United recently added a second nonstop daily flight between San Francisco and Kona, bringing to four the number of daily nonstop flights by the carrier between the West Coast and Kona.

United also operates two nonstop daily flights between Los Angeles and Kona.

The new Kona flight continues a recent trend by airlines of adding direct flights between the West Coast and the Neighbor Islands. The flights appeal to West Coast visitors who prefer not to stop in Honolulu before traveling to other islands.

American Airlines has started daily nonstop service between the West Coast and Lihu'e, Kaua'i. Hawaiian Airlines started daily nonstop service between Seattle and Kahului, Maui, and added a daily nonstop San Francisco-Maui flight in June.

United will operate a 182-seat Boeing 757-200 on the new Denver-Kona route. The Saturday flights will depart Denver at 11:30 a.m. and arrive in Kona at 4:04 p.m. Kona departures for Denver will be at 11:30 p.m., with arrival at 7:15 a.m.