Hawai’i Plans Charter Backup Amid Mokulele Disruptions

The Hawai’i Department of Transportation (HDOT) is preparing to issue a tender for an open-ended charter contract with a regional operator to ensure uninterrupted air service in the event of disruptions by Mokulele Airlines. Mokulele currently holds a monopoly at five Hawaiian airports, supported by Essential Air Service contracts.

HDOT Director Ed Sniffen announced plans to request funding during the current budget session to secure a backup operator. US Representative Jill Tokuda indicated she would engage the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to explore alternative solutions and reconsider Mokulele’s federal subsidies due to service reliability issues.

The move follows Mokulele Airlines’ suspension of all flights on January 15, 2025, citing maintenance issues with its Cessna C208 Grand Caravan fleet. This grounding also impacted parent company Southern Airways Express operations on the mainland. While Mokulele has resumed service, sporadic cancellations persist.

This marks the second major disruption in less than six months, with a similar incident occurring in August 2024. The reliability issues have severely impacted communities on Moloka’i, where Kaunakakai and Kalaupapa airports rely solely on Mokulele for scheduled air service. Without alternatives, residents face costly charters or sea travel to Maui or O’ahu.

The government is also considering a long-term solution by extending Kaunakakai’s runway to accommodate larger aircraft, though the project would take at least eight years to complete. The proposed charter contract aims to provide immediate relief and maintain critical air connectivity across the Hawaiian archipelago.

Related News: https://airguide.info/category/air-travel-business/airline-finance/

Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, ch-aviation.com