Pacific Wings cuts flights
amid dispute with state

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By Lyn Danninger
ldanninger@starbulletin.com

Pacific Wings, the Kahului-based commuter airline that has been struggling unsuccessfully with the state bureaucracy to grow its hangar space, said it will cut back some of its flights to Hana and also curtail some tour package arrangements it has with local businesses.

The move comes in response to a final decision by the state Department of Transportation to turn down the company's request for additional hangar space at Kahului airport needed to maintain its aircraft.

A 3:30 p.m. flight from Kahului to Hana will be dropped along with the 4 p.m. return flight on Saturdays and Sundays.

On Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, the 7:05 a.m. flight from Kahului to Hana and the 7:35 a.m. return will also be dropped.

The company had previously been offering more scheduled to flights to remote communities such as Hana than were required by its Essential Air Service contract with the federal government in order to accommodate community needs and local businesses, Pacific Wings, President, Greg Kahlstorf said.

Kahlstorf said the company will also have to cancel air-ground tour package partnerships it had in Hana, Molokai and the Big Island.

Pacific Wings argued that because it runs a scheduled air service and also serves the state's remote communities through its EAS contract with the federal government, it should be given a higher priority for the hangar.

With no movement from the state DOT, Pacific Wings turned to Hawaii's congressional delegation, the Federal Aviation Administration and finally local legislators for help.

Kahlstorf asked legislators Joe Souki, D, Maalaea-Kapalua-Wailuku and Dennis Arakaki, D, Kamehameha Heights-Kalihi Valley, to introduce a resolution during the special session calling on the DOT to give the hangar to Pacific Wings.

As of yesterday afternoon, Arakaki said he was still hopeful the resolution calling for hangar space for the airline would be introduced during the session.

"We want to see it introduced because there is a compelling reason now," Arakaki said. "The fact that our leadership has looked at it is a hopeful sign," he said.