State awaits outcome of FAA inquiry over airports

The Federal Aviation Administration could withhold millions in federal grant money if it decides the state acted improperly in moving Mesa Air Group's new interisland airline into Honolulu Airport's commuter terminal, the state transportation chief said yesterday.

But Rod Haraga, director of the state Department of Transportation, said yesterday he didn't think the FAA's inquiry would affect the planned June 9 startup of Mesa's new airline, go!

The FAA gives the state about $30 million a year in entitlements and grants used for such things as fixing runways and subsidizing firefighters, according to state transportation officials. The state matches 5 percent to 10 percent of that amount, Haraga said.

Haraga said his agency plans to respond Wednesday to an FAA letter asking about factors the state considered in deciding to put Mesa's operations in the commuter terminal rather than the interisland terminal.

"We have done our due diligence, and it's not like we did things in a vacuum or unilaterally," Haraga said. "We did it in consultation with the governor's office, the Airlines Committee of Hawaii, stakeholders and whoever we could get involved in making a good decision. I think Mesa Air is a go unless there's unforeseen circumstances."

Spokespersons for the FAA could not be reached for comment.

Pacific Wings President Greg Kahlstorf has said his operation will be adversely affected and there will be safety issues by putting Mesa in the commuter terminal.

Mesa had requested to be put in the less-expensive airport commuter terminal and said it doesn't see anything wrong with the state's plans.

"We were looking for alternative sites for Mesa Air, but when a letter was written to us by Aloha and Hawaiian (airlines) expressing concern with the mixture in the interisland terminal, and with most of the flights in the noontime hours in a congested interisland terminal, that wasn't going to be doing anyone any good," Haraga said.