The plans of two major airlines to increase nonstop service between the West Coast and Kaua’i were dashed by the events of September 11. Before the attacks, United Airlines had planned to add another daily nonstop flight from the West
The plans of two major airlines to increase nonstop service between the West Coast and Kaua’i were dashed by the events of September 11.
Before the attacks, United Airlines had planned to add another daily nonstop flight from the West Coast to Kaua’i, and American Airlines was gearing up for a mid-December launch of nonstop service between Lihu’e and the West Coast.
But despite travelers fears aboutf terrorism, the West Coast continues to send hundreds of thousands of people to Hawai’i and Kaua’i and that will increase in the new year.
American Trans Air (ATA) will launch weekly nonstop service from Los Angeles and San Francisco to Lihu’e Saturday, June 1, with brand new Boeing 757 jets that hold between 214 and 244 passengers.
Pleasant Hawaiian Holidays, which owns and operates the Kaua’i Coconut Beach Hotel at Waipouli and is a major seller of wholesale tour packages to Kaua’i, is behind the idea, which got an immediate favorable reaction from Mayor Maryanne Kusaka and Sue Kanoho of the Kaua’i Visitors Bureau.
“We are grateful to Ed Hogan (Pleasant Hawaiian owner) for his confidence in Kaua’i,” said Kusaka. “He confirms what we already know – that demand for Kaua’i remains strong and we can fill direct flights.”
Kanoho, KVB executive director, concurred. “We’re so excited to learn Pleasant Hawaiian’s commitment to the island has increased. We will do whatever we can to help fill the planes.”
Glen Hogan, acting general manager of the Kaua’i Coconut Beach Hotel and son of company owner Ed Hogan, could not be reached for comment. Over the years, the Hogans have become good friends with Kusaka, and have always loved this island.
Information received by Kanoho indicates the San Francisco flight will stop in Honolulu on its eastbound return, but with no change of planes in Honolulu.
As of yesterday, the flights are scheduled for Saturday-only arrivals and departures from June 1 to August 31, with service likely to be extended if successful.
Kanoho and others acknowledge the risk involved in expanding service to a visitor destination at a time major carriers are cutting routes.
“As you know, this is a major risk and expense, but we feel it’s Kaua’i’s time,” said a Pleasant Hawaiian spokesman. Airfares will start at $519 per person round-trip, the same as the current Pleasant/ATA nonstops from the West Coast into Kahului, Maui.
Staff Writer Paul C. Curtis can be reached at mailto:pcurtis@pulitzer.net or 245-3681 (ext. 224).
