Island Air said today it will begin upgrading its fleet next month with the arrival of new 68-seat and 48-seat ATR aircraft, and that the new jet-props will coincide with a rebranding  that will include a new paint scheme on the aircraft, a new logo and an enhanced website.

Island Air?s announcement comes just two days after the state?s largest carrier, Hawaiian Airlines, announced it would establish a turboprop subsidiary to fly to smaller airports like Kapalua, West Maui; Molokai and Lanai. That would be in direct competition with Island Air.

The changes and additions to Island Air?s brand from French-Italian turboprop maker ATR will take place incrementally with the complete rebranding targeted for completion in the fall.

Island Air is replacing the three 37-seat Bombardier de Havilland Dash-8 aircraft currently in its fleet, as well as the 33-seat Saab 340B plane that Island Air is leasing this year.