Continental to fly direct LAX &SFO to Hilo

[mdd7000]

The tourism department's estimate of up to 40,000 additional visitors to the island (Hilo) is a complete joke. I can't believe that they threw out a number like that. It will simply shift people from Kona and Honolulu flights. There might be a few NEW tourists, but as others have mentioned, the price isn't very conducive to additional tourism/flights.

[JerryCarr]

IMHO, this will only work if the price is right and if East Hawaii residents and tourists use it. I question the 40,000 new visitors quote, too, but there will no doubt be some new traffic. I am cautiously optimistic, though, because the ATA flight schedule was not really geared to getting anyone beyond the Bay Area, and Continental/United have massive network that opens up all of North America. The redeye element will only put off a limited number of potential customers because a large percentage of flights from Hawaii to North America are already overnight, and virtually all of them to the central and eastern USA are.

[Rob Tucker]

I'll take a red eye if I don't have to go through Honolulu. It is good news to me and good news for the Big Island.

[Dinamight]

I think the timing is perfect for people who use LAX or SFO as connections to further desintations out of the US. Arriving on the mainland at dawn means you can connect on any flight to whereever you want and a redeye is really the only way to do that. The flight from the mainland to Hilo leaves late afternoon meaning it will be much easier to connect onto that flight when coming in from afar. I think it is well planned out and I just hope it is successful. Maybe prices will come down after it is up and running and Expedia gets a hold of the new route.....

[KeaauRich]

The schedule is great for those traveling beyond California. Our vacation rental guests can spend most of their day puttering around Puna and Hilo, and still make their red-eye flight to the mainland. And those coming from the East Coast can catch mid-morning flights, connect in LA and get to Hilo at a reasonable hour. Cutting out the HNL layover or the drive from Kona should cut a couple of hours off travel time to and from the East Coast. I agree with Rob that once a week from SFO isn't enough...but it's a start!

As for the pricing, before we moved here we frequently found that the round-trip fare from DC to KOA or HNL wasn't significantly higher than the round-trip fare from LAX/SFO to HNL/KOA, so at the initial rates, the new Continental flights will probably draw more folks connecting from other mainland cities than those coming just from LA or San Fran. It will be interesting to see if Hawaiian makes any counter moves...

[JonP]

For those of us who fly often from CA to Hilo this is great news. Having to connect through Honolulu adds hours to the total travel time each way. No matter the departure time. Spending less time in transit equals less stress. Less stress is nearly priceless.
We were so bummed when ATA went belly-up.

[Kapohocat]

quote:

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Originally posted by mdd7000

The tourism department's estimate of up to 40,000 additional visitors to the island (Hilo) is a complete joke. I can't believe that they threw out a number like that. It will simply shift people from Kona and Honolulu flights. There might be a few NEW tourists, but as others have mentioned, the price isn't very conducive to additional tourism/flights.

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I disagree with this thought although I think 40K is optimistic. And at the current published rate of $644 on Continental's website, it isnt all the much more - our last LA flight was $460. So eliminate parking in Kona at $9/day x 15 days plus $50 of snacks for Robert's road trip, gas for trip over there and back, and there is not as much of a difference as it originally seems like.

I do know that I personally will see more visitors! The schedules have been so convoluted for Hilo that it takes a whole day to get to LAX/SFO which is essentially a 5 hr flight give or take. When you take the 40K and divide it by 4 (4 extra visitors a year coming to our guest room!) - that means that less than 1/16 of Big Island residents have to have 4 extra visitors per year. This is not factoring in the travelers that have no family or friend connection to the Big Island, and are real tourists here. The other thing is Puna has a strong connection to the entertainment industry employment in So Cal, and this will make it easier to use flights as a commute. I know right now today of 3 people who said they can now go to LA to work, and come home essentially every other weekend. (Course their pay scale can support the "commuting" costs.)

One of the things I heard the past two weeks with our large influx of visitors at our house was the length of the trip just from LAX & SFO. Our hanai son is stoked to see these flights as he said he cant take a whole week off but taking two days (Fri/Mon) makes it possible to visit more often if 2 whole days are not spent traveling.

One of my brothers & his wife did not make it out as he flies space available and not two empty seats Phx to Kona, HNL, Maui or Lihue on USAirways last Wed/Thur/Fri. So if planes are full already, this is just opening up availability.

I also, fortunately or unfortunately depending on the point of view, think the Big Island's time has come as a destination.

[Bob Orts]

The 40,000 figure appears to represents about 5 years of near full capacity. The question is, will these be new visitors to the Big Island, or as mdd7000 points out, will it just be shifting existing passengers to another airport?

[808blogger]

remind me again why someone would come to hilo over ANY OTHER PLACE in this state? LOL. for the bea... ohh i mean for the wea..... oh yeah rain... i mean for the great restaur..... oh... hrmmmm... for the awesome reso...... oh yeah.... hmmmm
HAHAHAHA..

[Greg]

808's right. Kona and Honolulu have it all over Hilo and Puna.

Kona has the pristine air quality, unhindered vistas of the mountains, and of course; Costco.

Honolulu is noted for it's relaxed rural atmosphere and slow pace.

These airplanes flying to and from Hilo are likely to remain empty.

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