Editorials

Tokyo-Kona flights depend on airline deal

GOVERNOR Cayetano says Hawaii shouldn't be held hostage to a U.S.-Japan airline dispute, but that's inevitable. Domestic air service in the United States has been deregulated; U.S. airlines can fly anywhere in the country. But international flights are subject to negotiation by the governments affected. Every government tries to protect its own carriers by parceling out air routes on a reciprocal basis.

In this case, Japan is withholding permission for United vil,16p5,9p Airlines to fly beyond Japan, from Osaka to Seoul. To retaliate, the United States won't approve direct service by Japan Airlines from Tokyo to Kona. That prompted Japan to withhold approval for United to expand its service between Honolulu and Osaka.

There is a long history of hard bargaining between Tokyo and Washington on airline routes. Withholding approval of a route request by an airline of the other country is the tactic commonly used to gain leverage for one's own carriers. Although agreement in principle was recently reached on a new U.S.-Japan air cargo agreement, it wasn't enough to clear the way for the Tokyo-Kona flights.

The state administration has a strong interest in seeing that air service to Hawaii from Japan and elsewhere in Asia is increased, because of its vital importance to the visitor industry. The governor's complaint is certainly understandable.

But the main concern of the federal government in these disputes is to help U.S. carriers obtain the international routes they seek. The interest of the consumer is to have as many flights available to as many destinations as possible.

The way out of this impasse is for the two national governments to make a deal - preferably one that increases air service all around. Sooner or later, there will be an agreement. Until then, Japan Airlines may be forced to continue to fly its Kona-bound passengers to Honolulu.


Other editorials, in brief:

Planning for Waikiki

THE city administration has come up with a plan aimed at encouraging the redevelopment of Waikiki. It has inevitably rekindled the perennial argument between growth and preservation. With intelligent planning, Waikiki could have more hotel rooms without destroying its appeal. But with or without more rooms, Waikiki needs a refurbishing.


Freemen of Montana

MORE than 100 FBI agents and Montana law-enforcement officers have staked out positions on that state's snow-covered eastern plains, reminiscent of the 1993 siege of the Branch Davidian compound near Waco, Texas. However, Justice Department officials promise to exercise patience in dealing with the right-wing group called the "Freemen" of Montana. The choice for the government is clear: a standoff that could amount to a lengthy house arrest of those inside the compound, or an armed confrontation with perilous consequences. Federal authorities should be prepared to remain on the Montana plains long after the snow melts.





Published by Liberty Newspapers Limited Partnership

Rupert E. Phillips,CEO

John M. Flanagan,Editor & Publisher

David Shapiro,Managing Editor

Diane Yukihiro Chang,Senior Editor & Editorial Page Editor

Frank Bridgewater & Michael Rovner,Assistant Managing Editors

A.A. Smyser,Contributing Editor



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