Airline seats to Hawaii forecast to set third-quarter record

By Dave Segal

POSTED: 02:30 p.m. HST, Jul 02, 2012
LAST UPDATED: 02:54 p.m. HST, Jul 02, 2012

HONOLULU STAR-ADVERTISER

Las Vegas-based Allegiant Air began service from Las Vegas and Fresno to Honolulu last month using a Boeing 757.

Airlines are expected to bring in more scheduled nonstop seats into Hawaii this quarter than the peak July-September period of five years ago as the state heads toward a record year in visitor arrivals.

An influx of new flights from Hawaiian, United, Alaska and Allegiant airlines, among others, is projected to bring in nearly 2.7 million seats, 12.6 percent more capacity than 2.4 million in the year-earlier period and 2.6 percent more than the 2.6 million that came during the same three-month stretch in 2007, according to data released today from the Hawaii Tourism Authority.

South Korea and China are expected to show gains of 55 percent, and 48 percent, respectively.

Seats from Oceania, which is comprised of Australia and New Zealand, are expected to increase 29.4 percent with U.S. East next at 25 percent and Japan at 15.4 percent. The U.S. West, Hawaii’s top tourism market, is anticipated to increase seats by 8.8 percent.

Canada is projected to remain the same as a year ago.

Overall, international seats are forecast to rise 18.1 percent and domestic seats 10.4 percent.

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Waimanalodayz1 wrote:

I woder if this is because of the Mexican violence. I notice some pretty good deals right now in Cabo and Cancun.

on July 2,2012 | 03:12PM

iwanaknow wrote:

When will the travel bubble pop? Learn a few words in Chinese?

on July 2,2012 | 03:33PM

sunnyhi wrote:

With America's obesity problem, it's just a matter of time before there is a major confrontation on board with travelers that pour over their seats and invade another passengers space. The TSA, airlines, and fed authorities will take a reactive approach and wait until something happens before implementing tougher regulations. I prefer that airlines begin a proactive approach to implementing a policy similar to mandating the size of your luggage to meet certain requirements to carry on board with oversize peple in that their physical frame must fit within the size of the seat with at least 1 inch of space on both sides or pay for two seats. Let's see how quickly we reduce the obesity problem when that happens. Yes...go ahead and eat all the loco mocos, malassadas, and super size meals you want but know that it also comes at the cost of paying for two seats. Not discriminating any different from charging a baggage fee if your suitcase is bigger than the on-board requirement.

on July 2,2012 | 05:03PM

kauai wrote:

Guess we (public and politicians) still haven't learned. We keep putting our economic eggs in the tourism basket. When the next recession hits, Hawaii will be sucking rocks once again as the tourist flow dries up. We really need to diversify this economy for the good of our state; for our succeeding generations; for social stability. Ugh.

on July 2,2012 | 05:07PM