Hawaii's state-run airport system received special recognition from the International Air Transport Association for the service it provided to airlines and for quickly waiving landing fees in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Hawaii’s airports
earn awardThe International Air Transport Association
commends state for aid after Sept. 11Associated Press
IATA, holding its annual general meeting in Shanghai on Sunday, named Hawaii as one of four recipients of its 5th annual IATA Eagle Awards.
"It is a very special honor to be the only airport in the United States recognized by this industry organization," Gov. Ben Cayetano said yesterday. "As a state reliant upon air travel, we were the first state to take steps last fall to ensure that the airlines would continue to be able to provide service to and from and within our islands."
IATA selection panel chairman Ron Allen noted Hawaii was the first airport system after the Sept. 11 attacks to waive landing fees and system support charges.
That was to help airlines hurt financially after the nationwide shutdown of air traffic, subsequent fall off of air travel and costly new security requirements.
"It was very gratifying that at a time of extreme financial difficulty for the airline industry, certain service providers were able to take a longer term view," said Pierre Jeanniot, IATA's director general.
Other systems getting the Eagle Awards were Singapore, Hong Kong and Cyprus.
A week after the attacks, Cayetano suspended the landing fees, which were reinstated April 1, saving the airlines $15.8 million. He also ordered reduced rental charges to airport concessionaires hurt by the downturn in air travel, costing the state $21.1 million in revenues.
Cayetano also waived landing fees for two years starting in September 1997 in response to a poor economy, saving the airlines more than $80 million.