Seats from Vegas to Isles severely cut
| • | $5M allocated to hire outgoing charter flights |
Associated Press
LAS VEGAS — Officials say the abrupt bankruptcy of ATA Airlines and the closure of Aloha Airlines has severely cut flights from Las Vegas to Hawai'i.
Indianapolis-based ATA declared bankruptcy and ceased operations Thursday.
Hawai'i-based Aloha ceased operations a couple of days earlier.
Together, they carried up to 40 percent of passengers between Las Vegas and the Islands, according to passenger records from McCarran International Airport.
Hawaiian Airlines, which also serves McCarran and other West Coast markets, formerly served by ATA, has announced plans to increase service between Honolulu and Oakland, Calif.
Officials say the bankruptcies won't stop charter flights that fly in more than than 70,000 gamblers a year to stay at Boyd Gaming Corp. casinos in downtown Las Vegas.
But analysts say it'll be harder, and probably more expensive, to book scheduled service.
