Hawaiian Air raises interisland ticket rates
Forget the interisland airfare war. Prices are going up again.
Nearly two years after go! made $39 tickets the low base price, Hawaiian Airlines said yesterday it was increasing interisland fares by $5 to $20 each way, effective today.
Hawaiian said the move was being made in response to increased operating costs, particularly fuel.
"The sudden shutdown of airlines locally and nationally these past few weeks shows how critically important it is for Hawaiian to cover its costs," said Mark Dunkerley, chairman and chief executive of Hawaiian.
Hawaiian said its lowest fare is increasing to $54 from $49. Customers booking flights for off-peak times and in advance will have more opportunities to pay the lowest fare, but telephone reservations will cost an extra $5. The airline also said that it was charging an additional $5 for the longer interisland flights between Honolulu and Hilo and Kona to help cover fuel costs.
Jonathan Ornstein, chairman and chief executive of go! parent Mesa Air Group, said he was reviewing Hawaiian's actions.
In addition, Hawaiian said it was following other major long-haul carriers on June 10 by charging $25 extra for checking in a second piece of luggage on most mainland-Hawaii flights.