Struggling airlines add flights to Hawai'i
By Susan Hooper
Advertiser Staff Writer
As the summer travel season approaches, airlines serving Hawai'i are adding flights and expanding capacity in anticipation of higher demand.
But while passengers are returning in increasing numbers, the discounted tickets that many hold mean the industry is still struggling to become profitable again.
Most airline representatives say domestic leisure travel to the Islands has recovered well from the drastic loss in business following the Sept. 11 attacks.
But travel from Japan to Hawai'i is still down from pre-Sept. 11 levels for some carriers.
"There are plenty of seats to Narita back and forth (from Hawai'i)," said Tom Renville, managing director, United Airlines-Hawai'i. "Those have not booked up nearly as well as the domestic; domestic trips are booking up very nicely."
Among new routes for Hawai'i residents are those by Hawaiian and Aloha airlines. In the wake of their failed merger, both carriers announced they would add routes. Hawaiian is starting daily service to Honolulu from Sacramento and Ontario, Calif., next month with daily service between Phoenix and Honolulu starting in October. In June, Aloha starts daily service to Honolulu from Burbank, Calif., and Vancouver, British Columbia.
Other carriers also are adding routes. In October, Air Canada plans to add Hawai'i flights from Calgary and Edmonton, Alberta, to its existing service from Vancouver, British Columbia, and Toronto.
American Airlines is following a trend in the industry of adding direct flights from the West Coast to the Neighbor Islands. It will expand its Maui-San Jose, Calif., service from five to seven days a week starting June 4 and add service between Los Angeles and Lihu'e every day but Friday, starting June 15.
"Hawai'i is a good market for us, and obviously we're looking forward to our new service to Lihu'e," said American Airlines spokesman Todd Burke. "There's growth in Hawai'i."
Reach Susan Hooper at 525-8064 or shooper@honoluluadvertiser.com.
