Continental Airlines, which has stuck to its mainland-Hawaii schedule since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the United States, is increasing its Hawaii service, adding a daily flight from Houston, Texas. Airline boosts Hawaii flights
By Russ Lynch
rlynch@starbulletin.comThe flight to Honolulu will increase its total capacity to the islands by 23 percent starting Feb. 15.
Moving the one-a-day Houston service up to two times a day will add 1,645 seats a week to the Hawaii market, using a Boeing 747-400ER aircraft with 35 seats in what Continental calls its BusinessFirst class and 200 in economy.
"Continental continues to experience strong demand for flights to Hawaii despite the dramatic drop in travel since Sept. 11," said Ron Wright, the airline's managing director for Hawaii. "As part of our continued commitment to Hawaii, Continental will double its daily nonstop service between Honolulu and Houston and maintain 100 percent of its flight schedule to the islands from other airports throughout the continental U.S. and the Pacific."
Continental has daily flights to Honolulu from Houston, Newark, N.J., and Los Angeles, for a total of 21 mainland-Hawaii connections a week. The airline also operates daily service linking Honolulu, Guam and the Marshall Islands.
A press release from Continental contained a congratulatory and welcoming message from Gov. Ben Cayetano. "We're seeing demand for the islands pick up quite nicely," Cayetano said. "Americans' confidence in air travel is growing and people remain committed to maintaining certain freedoms, including the freedom to travel and experience places like our island paradise."
Tony Vericella, president and chief executive of the Hawaii Visitors & Convention Bureau, said Continental's increased commitment to the islands will help the state.
"It is also a strong indication that the cooperative marketing activities of Hawaii's entire tourism industry are having a positive impact among consumers," he said.
Continental's Hawaii news hasn't all been positive lately. At the start of this month the airline closed its Honolulu pilot base, moving the jobs of about 130 captains and flight engineers out of Hawaii.
The company also laid off 47 of its 142-member Honolulu maintenance force and cut about 14 jobs at its 100-employee flight kitchen.
Those changes were related to replacing Continental's McDonnell Douglas DC-10 fleet with the smaller and more efficient Boeing 737-400 ERs. Throughout, the airline has maintained its Hawaii flight schedule but has 16 percent fewer seats because of the smaller aircraft.