Flying Interisland Privately
 

Does anyone have any experience hiring a private plane for interisland travel? Specifically, hiring a small jet?

Many thanks.

Many (about 25) years ago, the company I worked for needed to have two of our senior executives do a one-day neighbor island tour/meet-and-greet of the staff at our non-O`ahu locations. It became pretty obvious to us that flying commercial wasn't going to work for this, so we ended up chartering. I can't remember who we used, but it was one of the operators who flew Piper Navajo Chieftains out of the Lagoon Drive FBOs. A Google search of "Honolulu Airplane Charters" results in several options. Good luck!

p.s. I would fly on a nicely-appointed King Air over a small Lear for such as short leg.

I haven't - but would be interested in the cost -

Here is one place

Hawaii Jet Charter Service, Private, Luxury, Resort Air

Thanks. Why the preference for a King Air over a small jet?

Thanks for that. I saw another one too. Spent today dealing with homeowner nightmare problems, so did not get a chance to inquire. I'll try to get quotes sometime this week and report back. It would be fun to have a neighbor island visit without airport security hassles.

Some of the smaller jets are pretty snug inside; a King Air might have a slightly wider and longer cabin (you have to get into the CRJ-200/Challenger 601 sized-aircraft before you get to a point where you can stand up inside.) I've flown in King Airs and similar configured in traditional passenger seating (reminded me a lot of flying Royal Hawaiian Air into the old Kaanapali Airport and LNY) and ones in exec configuration where it was one long bench seat along one side of the cabin flying sideways; the latter was pretty nice. I also suspect a jet is going to be more expensive than a turboprop, all other things being equal.

Ah, now I am getting my memory jogged. Did Royal Hawaiian fly about 40 years ago? Did they fly into Princeville? I last flew into that airport in the 1970s, hauling backpack gear to hike the Na'pali coast. Of course, in true backpacker tradition, we hitch-hiked to the trailhead and rode in the back of a pickup operated by a kind driver.

Well, as promised, I am following up. I found a semi-private charter option.

For at least the near future, the Four Seasons Lanai Sensei (formerly Koele), is offering free air charter flights to/from Oahu/Lanai with reservations. The flights are on a 8-seater Pilatus PC-12 https://www.lanaiair.com/#aircraft .

According to a friend who did this last week (along with two other couples), the aircraft was very quiet and it was wonderful not to have to go through TSA and the HNL/LNY terminals.

We are seriously thinking of this option as a get-away.

Excellent news. I love the higher-altitude resort there. But I haven't been since it was renovated.

I'm trying Lanai air later this month will report back. A friend flew the Honda Jet with Wing Spirit. Said it was interesting.

Interesting "good?"

The Wing Spirit site seems like that they lease the plane to charter companies and don't do direct charters themselves. Do you know which company was the intermediary?

Mahalo.

$1000 a person for a plane that fits maybe 4.5 people

I do not know who is running everything.

Just got back for Lanai. I really enjoyed the Lanai Air experience. Easy access via Lagoon drive so no security hassles. Really nice lounge to wait in. They had us fill our interisland travel forms and took our temps before walking us to the plane. Plane is small but comfortable. Two pilots. When you land on Lanai the hotel van was sitting on the tarmac waiting for us.

On the return they bring you to the terminal for form check and temps taken by the national guard. Then they drive you out to the plane.

Really nice experience and nice little getaway from the city.

Thanks for the review. How were the pilots, drivers, and other staff with respect to wearing masks at all times?

Everyone who you came into contact with who works for Lanai air or the hotels was wearing a mask. The hotels are also temp checking you any time you return to property if you leave the "FS bubble"

Thanks for that. Did they ever explain what would happen if you were on Lanai and failed the temp check when returning to the property?