Posted on: Wednesday, December 29, 2004

Hilo-Kona flight set Jan. 10

By Alan Yonan Jr.
Advertiser Staff Writer

Island Air officials hope the fare on the airline's new Hilo-Kona route — at just under $20 each way — is priced low enough to entice commuters and others who currently make the 90-mile drive to get from one side of the Big Island to the other.

Considering the high cost of gasoline and the hassle of driving, the service is expected to generate solid demand when it is introduced Jan. 10, said Les Murashige, vice president of sales and revenue management for Island Air.

The new route should appeal to the growing number of Big Island residents who live in Hilo and work in Kona, as well as tourists who want to use Kona as a departure point for flights to the Mainland, Murashige said.

No airlines currently offer flights from Hilo to the Mainland, he added.

The 21-minute daily flight is scheduled to depart Hilo at 8 a.m. and return from Kona at 5:10 p.m. Tickets are priced at $19.26 each way, or $38.52 roundtrip.

"We got the idea when we had to reposition one of our planes from Hilo to Kona (to meet scheduling requirements). We were also aware that a lot of people live in Hilo and work in Kona," Murashige said.

"We could have just sent a plane from Hilo to Kona for placement, but we felt we could offer the flight as a service for people in Hilo," he said. "At $20 one-way, it's more for the commuters. This is not going to buy us any new airplanes or make us rich."

Island Air isn't the first interisland carrier to offer Hilo-Kona service. Both Aloha and Hawaiian airlines have flown the route at various times in the past.

By car, the 90-mile drive from Hilo to Kona via Waimea normally takes around 2 hours and 15 minutes, but can take longer depending on traffic.

Although the 21-minute flight is considerably quicker, air travelers also need to consider the amount of time it takes to check in for a flight, and wait for their baggage upon arrival. Island Air's Web site recommends arriving at the airport 90 minutes before a flight, but Murashige said that's an "overly generous" estimate of the time it takes to be processed at the airport.

In addition to the Hilo-Kona service, Island Air is adding daily Kona-Lihu'e, Kaua'i, service.