Carriers drop Airlines are dropping fares for travel between the mainland and Hawaii, but are also cutting flights and staff.
fares to combat
slowdown
By Russ Lynch
rlynch@starbulletin.comIt is too early to estimate what effect those moves might have in Hawaii, either on personnel or tourism, aviation officials say.
Last week, a few airlines had posted a reduction of about $80 for a Honolulu-Los Angeles round trip, bringing it down to $384 from a little more than $460. Yesterday, Hawaiian Airlines and some other major carriers joined in and offered the same fare, said Geoff Ross, a supervisor at International Travel Service in Honolulu.
"You have until the 24th of this month to ticket and the 19th of December is the last day to travel" at that fare, Ross said.
Meanwhile, United Airlines launched the annual "Mele Kalikimaka" holiday season fares it has offered since 1984, offering discounts to people who start their trips in Hawaii and travel to the mainland for the holidays.
Those fares, which are usually matched by other airlines in the Hawaii-mainland market, are 10 percent to 30 percent below previously posted fares for the same dates. They are good for travel starting between Dec. 2 and Dec. 30 and returning Dec. 30 to Jan. 13.
United said on its Web site that there may be other discount fares in place that are as good or better and greater discounts may be found by booking through www.ual.com.
United officials could not be reached yesterday for information on what other changes might be happening in the Hawaii market.
Georgette Deemer, a spokeswoman for Continental Airlines, said the airline had made no changes in its Hawaii fares, schedules or staffing since last week's terrorist attacks.
She said Continental did, however, match United's Christmas fares.
