Hawaiian Holdings, the parent company of US carrier Hawaiian Airlines has confirmed it has completed the purchase of its first ATR 42. The former Czech Airlines aircraft has been acquired from ASL Aviation Group Limited of Dublin, Republic of Ireland for delivery this month. A deal for a second aircraft has also been concluded with ASL Aviation for delivery in November.
The first aircraft will be used to inaugurate new passenger service to Molokai and Lanai in 2013 with a configuration for between 44 and 50 passengers. The new turboprop operation will fly separately from Hawaiian Airlines and Hawaiian Holdings is currently developing the name and brand identity of the new entity.
“These are the ideal aircraft for service to the less populated islands in our state,” said Mark Dunkerley, President and Chief Executive Officer, Hawaiian Holdings. “This new service will complement the Boeing 717 jet service offered by Hawaiian Airlines as well as provide the additional service that Moloka‘i and Läna‘i residents have been requesting.”
Hawaiian Holdings announced in July that it was going to launch a turboprop operation, but at the time had been tight-lipped over its operational plans. The turboprop operation will enable Hawaiian to serve the state’s smaller airports and will put pressure on smaller rival Island Air, which itself is in the midst of phasing in a new fleet of ATR turboprops.
This month there are 789 weekly inter-island departures from Molokai and 266 from Lanai. Island Air, Pacific Wings, Mokuele Airlines and its partner Makani Kai Air provide flights to six regional destinations - Kahului, Kalaupapa, Kapalua, Kona, Lanai City, Molokai – but around half the departures are to Honolulu. Island Air, Pacific Wings and Mokuele Airlines also provide links from Lanai to Honolulu with links also offered from the destination to Kahului and Kalaupapa.
Related Content
