Ban on rural flights to Honolulu lifted
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By Mike Gordon
Advertiser Staff Writer
President Bush's stop today in Hawai'i had threatened to ground commercial airline flights from rural airports to Honolulu International Airport, but yesterday the Federal Aviation Administration lifted the restriction.
On Tuesday, officials at Pacific Wings and Island Air, the state's two commuter airlines, were told that flights into Honolulu would not be allowed during the president's visit.
Flights from rural airports such as those on Moloka'i, Lana'i and the Big Island would have to be canceled.
That changed sometime late Tuesday, said Donn Walker, an FAA spokesman. Homeland security officials, the Secret Service, the FBI and other agencies reconsidered their decision, Walker said.
For non-scheduled flights, the government will maintain a no-fly zone within a 10-mile radius of the president, Walker said.
Greg Kahlstorf, president of Pacific Wings, said his company switchboard yesterday was "flooded with calls from concerned residents," many of whom depend on the airline for regular trips to Honolulu for medical treatment.
Island Air spokesman Stu Glauberman said the airline plans to operate normally today.
"I guess all the airlines may be subject to some immediate restrictions with regard to the president's arrival and departure at the airport, but other than that, we intend to fly our normal schedules," Glauberman said.
Reach Mike Gordon at mgordon@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8012.
