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Business Briefs

Reported by Star-Bulletin staff & wire

Monday, January 15, 2001

American Air offers cheaper isle fares

American Airlines today announced discounted mainland-Hawaii winter fares for travelers who buy their tickets through the airline's Web site, www.AA.com.

The round-trip fares such as $675 Boston-Maui or New York-Honolulu, $600 Chicago-Honolulu, and $325 from San Jose, San Francisco or Los Angeles to Honolulu, must be purchased by Friday. They are good for travel Mondays through Thursday from Jan. 18 through March 1. The airline said the "Web-only" sale is good for flights through to Hawaii from most mainland cities served by American or American Eagle.

Hawaiian records rise in passengers

Hawaiian Airlines said it carried 8.8 percent more passengers last month than it did in December 1999, an increase to 481,513 from 442,542.

The airline also had more space available, a 5.6 percent year-over-year increase in available seat miles to just under 614 million from a little more than 581 million. (An available seat mile is one seat open to a customer to travel one mile).

Since the rise in passenger volume exceeded the increase in capacity, the airline's load factor -- the percentage of available seats that were occupied -- increased to 72.9 percent last month, from 70.9 percent in December 1999. For the full year, Hawaiian carried 6,268,161 passengers, a 9.8 percent increase from 5,707,182 in 1999.

Maui Marriott finishes renovation

The Maui Marriott Resort & Ocean Club has completed its year-long, $70 million renovation, including a new $7 million, 3.5-acre "super pool." All 608 hotel rooms were upgraded and one wing has been converted to a time-share operation consisting of an additional 154 units in one and two bedroom suites. The suites have kitchens, spa baths, washer-dryers and other extras. The time-share owners, participating through Marriott's Maui Ocean Club, will have access to all services and amenities of the hotel, Marriott said. Host Marriott Corp. bought the Maui Marriott, then configured as a 720-room hotel, for $145 million in 1998 and has managed it since the early 1980s.