Posted on: Tuesday, August 27, 2002

Pacific Wings' request opposed

Advertiser Staff

Hawaiian and Aloha airlines have asked the federal Department of Transportation to deny a request by interisland air carrier Pacific Wings to extend the period the public can comment on the carriers' request for an antitrust exemption that would allow them to cooperate for a limited time.

In a filing with the department Friday, Pacific Wings argued that the deadline for the "answer period" should be extended from Wednesday until Sept. 10 because it needs more time to study the airlines' joint request and assess the potential effects on its own operations.

In their joint filing with the department yesterday, lawyers for Hawaiian and Aloha said Pacific Wings, Hawai'i's third-largest locally based airline, has already had adequate time to monitor the carriers' request.

"Pacific Wings' lack of diligence in monitoring filings made with the Department ... should not only bar Pacific Wings from now complaining that it has not had sufficient time to consider the application, but also provides compelling evidence that Pacific Wings submitted its motion solely to delay and obstruct this proceeding," the airlines said.

Pacific Wings also had argued that the application by Hawaiian and Aloha lacks projections or estimates on how their exemption would affect competing airlines or indications of what might happen with fares.

The airlines said "overwhelming evidence demonstrates that the effect of approval on Pacific Wings will be minuscule, if that. The agreement states clearly that it pertains only to services operated among Honolulu, Lihue, Kona, Hilo and Kahului. ... the agreement covers only a single market in which Pacific Wings operates — Honolulu-Kahului — and that Pacific Wings' presence in this market is barely noticeable."

A notice posted on the Department of Transportation's Web site Aug. 14 opened a 15-day period for the public to comment.