HONOLULU INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT — With the future of go! uncertain following a court ruling, many of the airline's passengers yesterday said they would be disappointed if it goes out of business.

The passengers cited the airline's low fares and good service, and the convenience of using the commuter terminal as reasons they fly go! Many also applauded the competition that go! provides to established Aloha and Hawaiian airlines.

For Lyman and Judy Jakahi of Hilo, the demise of go! would mean fewer trips to visit their grandchildren in Honolulu. Lyman Jakahi said they fly go! two to three times a month and usually pay $19 to $30 each way. They said they had paid twice as much to fly on the other airlines.

Yesterday, the couple was returning on a late-afternoon flight to Hilo after spending the day in Honolulu to watch their grandchildren's preschool Halloween program. Such quick jaunts would be out of the question should airfares return to the pre-go! levels, Lyman Jakahi said.

"I would be disappointed if they (folded). They really made interisland travel affordable," he said.

Pat Lum took advantage of a special $9 one-way fare and was here from Kona, visiting family. She said she wasn't a regular go! customer and wouldn't miss it if it left the Islands, but she acknowledged that its demise would hurt many local families.

"People can't afford to visit family at that kind of money," she said of the higher fares. "It's like the Superferry. If it's going to allow us to travel back and forth at a reasonable price, why fight it?"

Tom and Reta Thommas are on vacation from Chicago and flew go! from Maui to Honolulu yesterday. Tom Thommas said he monitored the Internet and found the $9 fare, while the prices for Aloha and Hawaiian were about $70.

He said he would hate to see go! leave.

"It's a wonderful little airline. We travel a lot, and I can't say anything bad about them," he said. "I'm always finding bargain ways to travel. I have a few friends who are coming out here, and I told them to check go! airlines."

Mona Brown, of Hilo, took her first flight on go! to visit her daughter on O'ahu. She said she usually flies Hawaiian Airlines, but her daughter got her a cheap go! fare.

She had a simple message for its owners:

"Just tell go! not to give up."

Reach Curtis Lum at culum@honoluluadvertiser.com.