Halo117

With Island air gone and HA the only real player, should UA consider inter island service to bolster their mainland service?

I see several benefits including keeping WN out with "true" connectivity with their network via GUM and the mainland. They could run this via the E175 and even offer a program where $15 checked bag fees unless connecting to the mainland where the standard fees apply. Can the E175 operate tight turns? I believe the tech issues on the Aloha planes are gone considering newer engine tech.

Thoughts?

mahasamatman

If it made financial sense, they would already be doing it.

spin88

very high costs, both in it being Hawaii and also in running very short flights (with High CASM). Hawaiian has the right aircraft for the mission (717s) which not only is fully depreciated but can take the constant take-offs and landings.

United does not have the right aircraft for the mission (and can't just shuttle 738/9s through as they are too big and would not have enough regularity for local Hawaiian traffic, and would have to have a UX contractor run the flights. I don't see that any UX contractor would want to do this other than on a UA bore the entire expense, which would include setting up a maintenance base.

Finally, the valuable traffic is US-Islands, and UA has direct flights, and a better network than anyone at this point. My guess is that OALs and foreign carriers are far more dependent on connections ex-HNL than is UA.

IAH-OIL-TRASH

A lot of the traffic would have to come from AK, AA, DL, etc. I can see those carriers making a deal with HA to provide inter-island connections vs passing them on to a UA inter-island service. And WN would suffer w/o interline. To be a good-sized viable competitor to HA, it has to be an airline that 1) doesn't operate out of HNL's commuter terminal and 2) interlines with all carriers. It's really hard to see an existing carrier than can do this w/o one problem or another with existing carriers. HA really does have a lock on inter-island.

EWR764

At least several times over the last 40 years through its demise, United was rumored to be looking at buying Aloha and running its own interisland operation.

I doubt United would be interested in taking on that complexity now and essentially having to adopt a strategy of undercutting an incumbent (HA) to gain share. UA is better served, as it is, deploying more resources to mainland flying from the neighbor islands to brace against forthcoming HA and WN growth.

SPLITTERZ

With the increase in flight to all island, it negates the need for UA pax to transfer as much inter-Island. There’s a lot of capacity being added across all airlines. HNL is serving little less as a connecting point for many mainland travelers.

IAH-OIL-TRASH

This is a bit simplistic. Non-stops from ORD, IAH, EWR only go to HNL and a good portion of those passengers want to go to another island. There are a lot of customers that visit multiple islands. If you're on the west coast and intend to stay on one island, you're fine. If you're from the rest of the mainland, inter-island service is important for flexibility.

tryathlete

I’m based in Chicago so I have a few decent options to Hawaii, some direct, others with a stop or so. No matter what it takes a full day to travel there. If I need to get to neighboring islands I can get there on Star Alliance or UA.

Buying another airline just to make it easier to get from island to island for the few times I take my family is an unneeded benefit although it would be nice.

I dont get the idea UA wants to make it any easier for me to use my miles to fly there judging by the aircraft and service they provide on flights there. Had to bring food for my entire family last trip a few years ago and the high capacity fleets with recliners in F said a lot back then.

JHake10

It seems UA's strategy is mainland to your destination rather than island hopping/connecting.

But it all depends on what Kirby's spreadsheet says

wh6cto

If it were profitable AQ would be back flying customers. (They are still in business flying cargo.) I recall after the AQ243 incident (all B732 fleet), they leased a bunch of B734 for a while...then went back to all B732. Tells you just how profitable it was.

As stated many times upthread, doesn't make sense for UA to try to do this now.

cblaisd

Historical note: UA used to have one inter-island flight. The OGG-ORD flight first made a stop in KOA because OGG's runway was too short for a fully fueled aircraft. You could sometimes (but not always) actually purchase OGG-KOA online for ~$79 iirc.

IAH-OIL-TRASH

Aloha is not "still in business flying cargo". They went Chapter 7 - total liquidation. The cargo division was sold in court to parent company of Young Brothers (local inter-island barge company) and is/was just using the name. There is no remaining Aloha entity with a passenger certificate.

Kacee

More seats! Cheaper food! No upgrades! No saver awards!

Welltended3

We started flying IAD-HNL-KOA this January and will do that again this coming January. With the nonstop to HNL and better seats, it is compelling compared to connecting in California.

Halo117

OP here...I guess we shall see what happens with HA holding the strings on interline. If no one steps up my guess is that HA inter island awards go up.

I read elsewhere that AS could try with horizon but have to get over their pilot shortage. Also why would HA still play nice with UA as evidenced by UA pushing island air connections before HA IME? Seems to me that HA could make UA pay a premium for encroaching on mainline cuz they can.

Lastly i really think that if WN was on the fence about inter island this news means they are over it now and I wouldn't be surprised route announcements include inter island from the start.