Posted on: Friday, December 31, 2004
Aloha Airlines drops commuter pass option
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| • | Aloha Airlines: From beginning to bankruptcy |
By Sean Hao
Advertiser Staff Writer
Frequent interisland business travelers will have to pay for each flight to and from work starting tomorrow following a decision by Aloha Airlines to discontinue its commuter pass.
Aloha, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection yesterday, discontinued the commuter pass shortly after Hawaiian Airlines discontinued its commuter pass program in October. The decision leaves commuters without a flat-rate unlimited travel option. The monthly passes cost between $1,500 and $2,000 and allowed unlimited travel between islands.
Given that interisland travel typically costs about $150 round-trip, the passes made the most sense for daily commuters. The elimination of that pass came as a surprise to some.
"It' a huge shock," said Kaua'i resident Judy Drosd, who flies to O'ahu on an almost daily basis for her job as chief officer for the Arts, Film and Entertainment division at the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism. "For me it's becoming too expensive.
"It's unfortunate because we are an island state."
Aloha spokesman Stu Glauberman said he could not comment on the cancellation of the commuter pass program.
Reach Sean Hao at 525-8093 or shao@honoluluadvertiser.com.
