American will add L.A., Kaua'i flight soon
By Katherine Nichols
Advertiser Staff Writer
American Airlines will begin daily nonstop service between Los Angeles and Lihu'e, Kaua'i, on June 15, bringing the number of daily nonstop flights from the Mainland to Kaua'i to three.
American Airlines flies from the Mainland to O'ahu, Maui and the Big Island. The addition of Kaua'i brings American's total daily nonstop flights to the state to 16.
The move is part of American's recovery efforts after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks that temporarily crippled the company. The largest airline also said yesterday it will add 19 daily flights to New York-area airports from various cities between April and June and several international flights to meet increased demand for spring and summer travel.
On Kaua'i, American will compete with United Airlines, which has two daily nonstop flights from California. American will use 176-seat Boeing 757s on the new flight.
United also uses Boeing 757s on the flights but with a 182-seat capacity.
Sue Kanoho, executive director of the Kaua'i Visitors Bureau, said that combined with United's daily flights and a couple of seasonal once-weekly charter flights, 23 flights from the Mainland per week will arrive at Lihu'e Airport this summer.
"With new air service available, hopefully (visitors will) stay a little bit longer on Kaua'i," said Kanoho.
This seems to be the trend. The Kaua'i bureau's most recent survey showed less island hopping by visitors who come directly to Kaua'i, said Kanoho.
"A lot of people are not as into the frenetic schedule as they used to be," Kanoho said. "People are looking for some rest and relaxation."
American's general manager of Hawai'i Mike Nozaki said in a statement, "Without a doubt, the Hawaiian Islands continue to be among our most popular U.S. vacation destinations."
United has found demand for its flights to Kaua'i to be strong.
The airline carries "very high load factors to all of the islands," said Patrick Palazzolo, a spokesman for United's airline pilots association.
The shares of Fort Worth, Texas-based AMR, American Airlines' parent, which had risen 23 percent this year, fell $1.70, or 5.85 percent, to $27.35 yesterday.
