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COURTESY HAWAIIAN AIRLINES
Hawaiian Airlines, which will use 48-passenger ATR-42 aircrafts shown here, will offer three daily flights to Molokai beginning March 11 and twice-daily service to Lanai starting March 18.
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‘Ohana by Hawaiian, the new turboprop service of the state’s largest airline, will begin flights next month to Molokai and Lanai from Honolulu Airport.
Hawaiian Airlines, which will use 48-passenger ATR-42 aircraft, will offer three daily flights to Molokai beginning March 11 and twice-daily service to Lanai starting March 18.
Tickets went on sale Monday at a special fare of $59 each way for tickets booked through Feb. 17 for travel through April 17.
Idaho-based Empire Airlines is contracted by Hawaiian to operate ‘Ohana. The planes feature a design by Hilo-based artist Sig Zane and his son Kuha‘o.
Hawaiian first announced in July 2012 it was going to launch a turboprop operation and in February 2013 said it would begin service later that summer. But delays in getting Federal Aviation Administration certification due to a staffing shortage prevented the start of service.
The FAA delay prompted Hawaiian CEO Mark Dunkerley to comment in October, "I think the situation is deplorable. … We’ve invested a lot of money to get ready for this, and this situation is to my knowledge without precedence."
The new turboprop operation has created more than 100 Hawaii-based jobs, including pilots, flight attendants and mechanics as well as ground-handling and customer service positions.
‘Ohana will be competing on its routes with Island Air and Mokulele Airlines.
"As Hawaii’s first airline, this new operation anchors us to our legacy and vision to connect all of our island communities through flight, making it easier for kamaaina and visitors alike to share time together," said Hadden Watt, managing director of ‘Ohana.
