Wow - I was incognito for a few days and this thread really took off!

Some fascinating comments here which got my mind to thinking. . .

Regarding RJ's - here's the problem I see. Since using the current model EVERY flight has to go to HNL. And since HNL is gate limited. And since AQ never has a free gate for even 15 minutes all day long. A move to RJ's would in effect cut their daily capacity (and I presume revenue) by 30% - which makes no sense.

But then my mind started to wander a little wider. For example WHY does every friggen flight have to land in HNL? Maybe there is a workable RJ model based on flights from LIH - OGG, OGG - ITO, KOA - HNL? I'm certainly not saying don't fly to HNL, only that there might be enough neighbor island business to keep a small fleet of RJ's busy many cycles per day. Throw in a few stops on Oahu and perhaps the pressure cycles per days would be cut by 20 or 30% greatly reducing maintanance costs.

Let the mind wander even further. If you extended operating hours and flew a few early morning / late evening flights you might also pick up fares that otherwise go unserved.

Of course doing any of these things requires breaking out of the "me too" mode in which both AQ and HA operate.

Aloha,

Lihu'e 1k