Posted on: Saturday, October 30, 2004

$99 Oakland-Maui fare 'not a gimmick'

By Dan Nakaso
Advertiser Staff Writer

Fifty seats out of every 214 aboard new North American Airlines flights from Oakland, Calif., to Maui will go for $99 for flights booked before Nov. 30.

"It's not a gimmick," said Steve Harfst, North American's chief operating officer. "If people call up today and want a seat, we've got 50 seats available for $99 on every flight."

The introductory discounted fare is designed to attract new business to North American's latest Hawai'i route. The $99 fare must be booked before Nov. 30 for travel before Dec. 10. The $99 fare is also good for the return flight from Maui to Oakland.

North American, which is based at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport, has been flying charter service from Oakland to Honolulu for 2 1/2 years. It now plans to add regularly scheduled service to Maui and perhaps additional Hawai'i routes in the future.

North American will use Boeing 757-200 ER planes that seat 214 passengers. The 15-year-old airline has been profitable by focusing on niche markets, such as Oakland, Harfst said.

"The crumbs for the big boys are a meal for us," Harfst said. "So all we need is a little piece."

Reservations can be made on the Web at www.northamericanair.com or by calling (800) 371-6297.

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