Aloha to Aloha Airlines
March 31st, 2008 kNuke Posted in Hawaii | 1 Comment »
Looks like Aloha Airlines will stop flying passengers starting tomorrow. I can’t say this is shocking, but the abruptness of the announcement did catch me by surprise. I didn’t know Aloha Airlines was considering shutting down. You’d figure news of their possible shutdown would have leaked out to the public well in advance.
Regardless, this is a sad day for Aloha Airlines and its employees, but one inter-island carrier had to pull out. There just isn’t enough inter-island business to keep three airlines profitable. Once Go Airlines entered the market and slashed prices, Hawaiian or Aloha Airlines should of pulled out, the writing was on the wall. It’s true that both Hawaiian and Aloha Airlines could of kept prices higher, to try to be profitable, but knowing consumers, they would of flown on Go Airlines.
That being said, I really hope the general public isn’t upset about this. I didn’t hear anyone complain when the airfare prices were dropped, which was a blatant tactic by Go Airlines to squeeze out a competitor. I also hope lawmakers don’t act upset either, because they knew this would happen. So Hawaii, you can be sad for Aloha Airlines and its employees, but you have no right to be upset. You played your part.
April 2nd, 2008 at 4:17 pm
Its definitely sad that Aloha has been forced out of business. I wonder if the neighbor islands will change their minds and start supporting the SuperFerry now that one interisland airline is gone and one major cruise ship company has pulled two of their cruise ships out of Hawaii.
It will be interesting to see if come October Go Airlines jacks their prices up to the $100+ each way or if they truly want to be a lower cost alternative and keep their prices in a reasonable level like maybe the $50-70 range.
Visit out page for a link to a video feating the 61 years of Aloha Airlines. As we all say Aloha!
http://www.global-hawaii.com/hawaiiblog/?p=110
..Dave..