Go (Mesa ) ceases all flights in Hawaii as of 4/1

[cwaters]

I wonder how much the airlines had to do with killing the interisland ferry. That would have solved more problems, then it caused. And outer islanders could have had some relief.

[Bullwinkle]

southwest still has (had?) a few 717's from the air tran merger. At the time of the deal some leases were in place through 2017.

Those 737's would make nice trans pacific airplanes - good seating all one class, cheap to operate.

there certainly is a void right now

[Chunkster]

Are 717s certifiable for ETOPS (extended twin-engine overwater) US mainland to Hawaii? I know at least two versions of the 737 are and that they are used by Alaska and United on their Hawaii routes.

[Obie]

All of the ex Air Tran 717's have been bought by Delta.The 717 does not have the range or equipment to be Etops certified.

[Kelena]

Doesn't Mokulele fly inter-island? I know it flies between our island and Maui. I do wish the ferry were running, although I think the frog would have spread pretty quickly.

[Carey]

Go!(Mesa) bought Mokulele in 2006, then divested the turboprops in 2009 (hence the Go! airlines still had the Mokulele logo on them..

Have no idea if there are any hoops that Mokulele would need to go through to have access to the gates/airports Go!/Mokulele have now (there may have been an exclusion clause in the division ... but I have no idea...)

That said, the Mokulele stand alone does have service from Kona & Waimes to non-HNL locations...

[TomK]

AKpilot - just to clarify my post, I wouldn't fly Mesa/Go! for the very reasons you outline, but the absence of a direct competitor is likely bad news for inter-island fares, so some company stepping in would make me feel happier, Southwest would be great but just can't see it happening.

And yes, as for the 717, it doesn't have the range to reach the mainland in regular passenger ops. Southwest does have 737s with the range though (as does Alaska and United, obviously).

[opihikao]

FYI: (*Snipped - More at link) If only Aloha Airlines could be resurrected! Please do it! JMO.

http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/25012...a-comeback

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) -
Could the end of go! Airlines in Hawaii clear the way for an Aloha Airlines comeback? It's a tantalizing thought for many people still stung by the inter-island shakeup. And get this go!'s last day of service on March 31 will be the 6 year anniversary of Aloha's final flight.

There isn't nearly the same sadness surrounding the end of go! that there was for Aloha Airlines.

"Go is withdrawing from the market essentially eating its karma," said David Farmer, who was the attorney for Aloha Airlines.

Farmer says its karma because some blamed go! for pushing Aloha out of business.

"There was never any embrace of this brand, in fact there was resentment so I think the mindset of don't let the door hit you on the way out is what it is," said Farmer.

He does say the Aloha Airlines name is still for sale. This could be the right time for someone to buy the name and re-brand it.

"Then we're back to Aloha Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines. I think for many of us local people that would be a nice thing," said Farmer.

Lawmakers say there are other carriers interested in Hawaii, namely Alaska Airlines, which has met with state leaders over the past few years.

"They've sent teams to come out and look at our infrastructure, to talk with our Department of Transportation Airports people so we may see other carriers," said State Senator Kalani English, (D) East and Upcountry Maui, Lanai, Molokai and Kahoolawe.

Until another carrier opens or expands in Hawaii some fear prices taking off. But others don't expect too much of an ascent.

"Hawaiian already really has a monopoly so they're doing what they can so they're not going to go up a whole lot because of this," said John Steelquist, Ph.D., Chaminade University Business Professor.

"We're hoping that they will continue to be that good partner knowing that they are operating in a de facto monopoly and not exploit that situation," said Sen. English.

[TomK]

"We're hoping that they will continue to be that good partner knowing that they are operating in a de facto monopoly and not exploit that situation," said Sen. English.

"We're hoping" is certainly not the same as having a competitor keep prices from increasing too much. If a monopoly exists for the next few years, what will stop Hawaiian raising prices? Ethics, maybe (that would be so nice), but it's an airline, a business and has shareholders.

[kalakoa]

quote:

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If a monopoly exists for the next few years, what will stop Hawaiian raising prices?

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Worse than a plain "monopoly" is the "required travel" factor -- very much like having to drive to Hilo for everything, and having only one highway to get there.

Side effects: increased medical insurance costs (have to fly to the "real" hospital on Oahu) and County/State budget overruns (Abercrombie's visits here, Kenoi's visits there...)