(01-07-2024, 10:13 AM)HiloJulie Wrote: I must say, the acceptance of 3 and a half days of delays over getting the parts needed to repair the airline security machine is amazing. This is not something that would cost multi-millions of dollars to have accessible and be able to have been repaired within hours versus 3 and one half days. And even if so, I am sure the TSA could demand the supplier provide the parts free with payment due upon installment of any such part(s).
The same thing would happen at any small airport around the world, including the States. I'm not aware of any of the passengers having a three-and-a-half-day delay and although it's not fun being delayed, it's happened to me around the world, it's happened to me less if not at all at Hilo. And I have no idea how the TSA can demand anything if there's no way their demand can be met.
Have you gone to a car mechanic and demanded they have the part your broken car needs without delay? This is an island in the middle of the Pacific. We don't have everything here.
As for replacement aircraft just waiting to be used as a spare, how is that economical for the airline? It doesn't happen because they want all their planes to be flying as much as they can. They don't make money by having planes stand around at some airport just in case they're needed. It would be wonderful if we could have an airline industry that would cater to everyone's needs and have spare planes standing by everywhere with the flight crew that could fly them at a moment's notice, but that's not the reality. No one would be able to afford to fly anywhere, let alone inter-island.