Regional jets will fly to Hilo, Honolulu, Kona, Lihue and Maiu, Mesa said in a statement today. Phoenix-based Mesa will form an independent company with unnamed investors to operate the airline.

Hawaiian Holdings Inc., the parent of Hawaiian Airlines, emerged from bankruptcy protection June 2. Aloha Airgroup Inc., parent of Aloha Airlines, sought Chapter 11 protection Dec. 30 and said yesterday it reached an agreement for a new equity investment in the company.

"It's the state of the Hawaiian airline industry," Mesa Chief Financial Officer Peter Murnane said in an interview today. "Hawaiian was in bankruptcy, Aloha is in bankruptcy. The inter- island market is a very interesting market, and now seemed the right time."

Mesa makes commuter flights for UAL Corp.'s United Airlines, America West Holdings Corp. and US Airways Group Inc. It also operates flights under its own name in New Mexico and Colorado.

"While Mesa is new to Hawaii, we have contemplated inter-island service as far back as 1990," Chief Executive Jonathan Ornstein said in a statement. The carrier has been working on specific plans since early 2004.

Mesa said it will announce more information, including schedules, in the "near future." The carrier expects to purchase used 50-seat Bombardier CRJ 200 planes when it starts flights and later add new CRJ 900 jets, which seat 86 to 90, Murnane said.