Island Air’s fleet makeover is complete.
The state’s second-largest airline retired the last of its 64-seat ATR-72 aircraft on Monday and now has a fleet of all Bombardier Q400 turboprops. The transition began in January when the first 78-seat Q400 started service.
Island Air’s final ATR flight from Lihue to Honolulu was scheduled to touch down at about 8:15 p.m. Monday at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport. Passengers Monday were treated to special in-flight snacks and refreshments, and raffles for future trips on Island Air were held on every ATR-72 flight throughout the day.
“We have been looking forward to this day when we could say ‘mahalo’ to the ATR-72s that have served our islands well over the past four years, and to celebrate Island Air’s larger, all-Q400 fleet,” said Capt. John Riddel, who piloted the final ATR flight. “Island Air’s 72 pilots are excited to fly the Q400s and having more passengers enjoy the superior Q400 flight experience.”
The Q400 marks a new beginning for Island Air under its new ownership group, consisting of Honolulu venture capitalist Jeffrey Au and other investors. They purchased the airline in February 2016 from billionaire Larry Ellison, who remains a minority investor. The new planes are faster, quieter and more fuel efficient than the outgoing fleet, which had an average age of
24 years.
“Having an all-Q400 fleet is a goal our entire Island Air team has been working toward as it will allow us to provide residents and visitors with the best interisland travel experience,” David Uchiyama, president and CEO of Island Air, said in a statement. “With a full fleet of Q400s in place, our team across the state is focused on continuing to improve operations, expand our service and offer more travelers the opportunity to ‘Fly the Island Way.’”
Island Air currently has five Q400s, and a sixth is expected later this year.
The airline offers more than 400 flights a week between Honolulu, Kona,
Kahului and Lihue.
