Yes and no. For years HA and AQ made a reasonable income by flying mostly inter-island. It is only when they decided to go big-time did they get into financial problems. They bought the higher priced and lower fuel efficient extended B767. The B717 is a great short flight airplane because of its excellent fuel efficiency, low noise, low pollution and far less maintenance than the worn-out DC-9-50 it replaced. Fuel costs aint that much difference from elsewhere, and actually some people have stated it should be cheaper in HI as it is closer to the well head. The state started a investigation but dropped it like a hot potato.
As for internet access for AQ fares, every library I have seen in Hawaii has *FREE* internet access for Hawaii residents and for a fee for others who cant show local residency. This is not true for most or many mainland 48 state libraries I have visited. Other than just after 9/11 I have never seen an inter-island flight with less than approx 70% load factor……ie higher than many 48 to 48 state flights I have been on. Most even have a standby list now that the flights have been cut.
HA and AQ continue to operate like third world country national airlines, ie they plead poverty, want subsidies, and “protection” from unknown forces, mysterious villains and the rest of the modern world. HA and AQ are allowed to fly Stage 2 aircraft unlike the rest of the modern world (oh yes, they can fly these in Alaska). When UA wanted to fly inter-island the HA and AQ chiefs went running to their senior senator to have it quashed. They succeeded and the Hawaii residents are paying dearly for it…….day after day.
Open up the Hawaii inter-island market and let economic forces prevail. They actually work fairly well in most of the USA. Only then will prices/fares come down. I would love to see Southwest start service in Hawaii. They soon will be starting it in Philly and prices are already coming down there.
Oh, and don’t ask my opinions on the subsidy to the Hawaii cruise market or the sugar industry, or the lobster industry, or the shrimp industry etc. The Jones Act is stupid and should be abolished not supported by still further subsidies normally given to third world countries.
MisterNice
[This message has been edited by MisterNice (edited Feb 22, 2004).]