Hawaii-based Airlines - Hawaiian’s CEO pours praise on the Boeing 717

http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2009/03/06/323513/hawaiians-ceo-pours-praise-on-the-boeing-717.html

Could you post the first couple paragraphs from the story along with the link? For instance,

Hawaiian Airlines CEO Mark Dunkerley believes no other aircraft rivals the operation of the Boeing 717 used on the carrier's inter-island flights.

After the demise of Aloha Airlines in April of 2008 Hawaiian stepped in quickly to fill some of Aloha's capacity in the inter-island market, at one point using its spare 767 aircraft on the 18-minute hops.

Eventually Hawaiian sourced four additional 717s, and now operates 33 of the aircraft in its inter-island network.

Dunkerley says the 717 is ideally suited for the high-frequency, short flights Hawaiian performs in the islands, telling attendees at the carrier's investor day that few of those markets exist. That is probably one factor the out-of-production aircraft was not a successful seller, he notes.

If Oil was still north of $100 a barrel... would he still be singing such praises?

Could you post the first couple paragraphs from the story along with the link? For instance,
Let me echo this comment. While I'm no longer a moderator of this forum, indulge me for a second:

If there is a news article or other piece of information you'd like to share from the web, credit the source of the information and/or give a brief two- to three- paragraph recap of the news and provide the appropriate link to the source.

FWIW, as I've mentioned a number of times here, a few AQ pilots always told me that HA's 717s were better off for the interisland environment. Engines set higher off the ground made for less salt water corrosion (don't really know why a few feet make such a difference).

Let me echo this comment. While I'm no longer a moderator of this forum, indulge me for a second:



FWIW, as I've mentioned a number of times here, a few AQ pilots always told me that HA's 717s were better off for the interisland environment. Engines set higher off the ground made for less salt water corrosion (don't really know why a few feet make such a difference).

If true, I'd guess the 737 engines suck up a fair bit of salt laden moisture from the ground(and we know how much wet ground we've got!), where the 717 engines 10' higher probably just get if from ambient atmosphere at their height.

It is hard to imagine it makes much difference. I'd think the overall age of the engines would make much more difference!

IIRC, 717s are more fuel efficient on seat per mile basis than a lot of aircraft out there, including the RJs that go! and other regionals use. Now that they are out of production, used ones are hard to find. HA was lucky to get some more recently, from Australia I think.