Aloha Air’s next
stop: Marshall Islands
The carrier will begin weekly
By Russ Lynch
service to Majuro starting Sept. 2
Star-Bulletin
Aloha Airlines will begin scheduled service to Majuro in the Republic of the Marshall Islands Sept. 2, after an inaugural flight for invited guests Aug. 26.
Aloha said it will fly to Majuro once a week and go on to Kwajalein, returning to Majuro before the leg back to Honolulu. The plane will refuel on Johnston Island, 825 miles southwest of Honolulu. The aircraft will be a long-range Boeing 737-200, with 10 seats in business class and 97 in coach.
"We're trying to diversify our route structure and increase the utilization of our aircraft," said James King, Aloha vice president of planning and development.
King said yesterday that the airline is familiar with the Pacific area because it has been running charter flights to island destinations for some years. Aloha will continue to run charter flights to Christmas Island, Johnston Island and Midway, he said.
Aloha's competition in the Majuro service is Continental Air Micronesia, which flies there twice a week, building up to three flights a week in peak seasons.
Glenn R. Zander, Aloha president and chief executive officer, said the airline started discussions with the Marshallese government two years ago but it has taken until now to get U.S. Department of Defense permission to stop at Johnston.
Aloha's fares for the Majuro service are $800, plus taxes, for a round-trip ticket purchased at least seven days before travel and $550 each way for a coach-class ticket with no advance-purchase requirement. The business-class fare is $900 each way. Continental charges $700 for a one-way ticket. Its other fares are the same as Aloha's.
Majuro, 2,300 miles west of Oahu, has become a popular tourism and trade destination for isle residents.
