ATA to add more flights here from Mainland

By Dan Nakaso
Advertiser Staff Writer

Low-cost carrier American Trans Air will launch daily service from Honolulu to Seattle and increase flights from San Francisco and Los Angeles in a continuing sign of strong Mainland travel to the Islands, the company announced yesterday.

ATA will add a second daily round-trip flight from San Francisco, originating from New York-La Guardia, on Nov. 20. That will be followed by the launch of nonstop Seattle service Feb. 20 and increased flights from Los Angeles beginning June 1.

The additional flights are the result of a hot Mainland visitor market and efforts by ATA to raise the company's profile in the Islands.

Indiana-based ATA has been flying to Hawai'i since 1988 but is mostly known by its relationship with Pleasant Hawaiian Airways, which will continue to fly ATA planes.

"We've been in the market for 15 years but we really haven't made a lot of noise," said John Happ, who recently joined ATA as senior vice president of marketing and sales.

"We're out there with five or six aircraft on any given day but for the most part, our presence has been through our relationship with Pleasant Hawaiian Airways."

Reach Dan Nakaso at dnakaso@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8085.