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Mokulele Airlines

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Mokulele Airlines
File:MokuleleAirlinesLogo.png
IATA ICAO Call sign
MW BUG SPEEDBUGGY
Founded1998 (as Mokulele Flight Service)
HubsHonolulu International Airport
Kona International Airport
Fleet size10
Destinations6
HeadquartersKalaoa, Hawaii
Key peopleScott Durgin (interim president and CEO)
Websitehttp://www.mokuleleairlines.com/

Mokulele Airlines is an American independent commuter airline headquartered in Kalaoa CDP, Hawaii County, Hawaii.[1][2] The airline operates scheduled inter-island and tour flights primarily among Hawaii's smaller airports, with services among the state's primary airports operated on behalf of the airline by Shuttle America. 50% of the airline's shares are owned by Republic Airways Holdings.

History

The airline was founded in 1998 as Mokulele Flight Service by Kawehi Inaba, and was the first airline in Hawaii to be founded by a Native Hawaiian woman. In 2005 it was acquired by Boyer Industries LLC, headed by former baggage handler turned entreprenuer Bill Boyer Jr., who became the airline's CEO.[3]

In September 2006, the airline announced that it had reached an agreement with Mesa Air Group and its go! division, whereby Mokulele would operate Cessna Grand Caravan aircraft to Kapalua, Molokai, and Lanai under the name go!Express. Service began with flights from Kapalua to Honolulu, Kahului, and Kona on April 17, 2007.[4][5] Service began for flights to Molokai on July 21, 2007 and flights to Lanai on October 06, 2007.

In January 2008, the airline reached an agreement with Aloha Airlines to provide cargo service to Molokai, Lanai, and Kapalua under the name Aloha Cargo Express beginning in April using a Cessna 208 Cargomaster.[6] Following Aloha's March 2008 bankruptcy, Boyer indicated that he had an agreement with Aloha CEO David Banmiller to work with the buyer of Aloha's cargo operations to continue the Mokulele-Aloha contract. Boyer also stated that the airline would go ahead with cargo operations under its own name, Mokulele Air Cargo.[7]

In October 2008, Mokulele announced that it had reached an agreement with Republic Airways Holdings to provide interisland jet service. On November 19th, Republic's Shuttle America began operating two Embraer 170 aircraft on flights between Honolulu, Lihue, and Kona under the Mokulele name, with additional aircraft and destinations to be added in 2009.[8] As a result of Mokulele's entrance into markets that complete directly with go!, that airline later announced that it would end the go!Express agreement with Mokulele in April 2009.[9]

In December 2008, Mokulele Airlines announced partnerships with two larger North American airlines. The first, with Alaska Airlines, will allow members of Alaska's Mileage Plan frequent flyer program to earn and redeem miles on Mokulele flights, with a code-sharing agreement hoped for in early 2009.[10] The second, with WestJet Airlines, will provide access to Mokulele's inter-island flights to WestJet's customers, including sightseeing air tours. Each airline will promote the other on their respective websites.[11]

After running into financial difficulties earlier in the year, the airline announced in March 2009 that Republic had taken a 50% stake in the company. Boyer relinquished the CEO position to Republic vice president Scott Durgin, moving to head the airline's sales and marketing efforts. Republic also assumed control of the Cessna Grand Caravan aircraft operated by Mokulele.[12] A few days later, Mesa announced that the change of CEO allows the airline to terminate its agreement with Mokulele early, and would terminate the agreement effective March 24, 2009.[13]

Fleet

As of March 2009, Mokulele has 10 aircraft in its fleet consisting of:[12]

Type Total Passenger Capacity
(First/Economy) 		Notes
Cessna 208B Grand Caravan 6 9 (0/9)
Cessna 208B Super Cargomaster 1 Cargo Only
Embraer 170 3 70 (6/64) Operated by Shuttle America; additional 1 on order

<a href="http://media.photobucket.com/image/mokulele airlines/macpro75/MokuleleEMB170-1b.jpg?o=1" target="_blank"><img src="http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f21/macpro75/MokuleleEMB170-1b.jpg" border="0"></a>

Destinations

Operated by Mokulele Airlines as Mokulele Express

Operated by Shuttle America as Mokulele Airlines

References

  1. ^ "Contact Us." Mokulele Airlines. Retrieved on May 21, 2009.
  2. ^ "Kalaoa CDP, Hawaii." U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved on May 21, 2009.
  3. ^ Gillie, John (2006-09-27). "Laid-off worker strikes isle airline deal". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. Tacoma News Tribune. Retrieved 2007-10-07. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  4. ^ "go! and Mokulele Airlines Establish Code Share Agreement" (Press release). Mesa Air Group. 2006-09-14. Retrieved 2006-10-11. {{cite press release}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  5. ^ "go!Express launches". Pacific Business News. 2007-04-18. Retrieved 2007-04-18. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  6. ^ Segal, Dave (2008-01-29). "Deal expands air cargo options". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. Retrieved 2008-01-29. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  7. ^ Segal, Dave (2008-04-25). "Mokulele goes ahead with cargo expansion". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. Retrieved 2008-04-25. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  8. ^ Sudick, Jennifer (2008-10-16). "Mokulele expands in isle market". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. Retrieved 2008-10-16.
  9. ^ Segal, Dave (2009-01-13). "Go! cuts quarterly loss for third time". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. Retrieved 2009-01-13.
  10. ^ Consillio, Kristen (2008-12-05). "Mokulele offering deals for travel between isles". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. Retrieved 2008-12-08.
  11. ^ "WestJet, Mokulele announce partnership". Pacific Business News. 2008-12-08. Retrieved 2008-12-08.
  12. ^ a b Segal, David (2009-03-20). "Mokulele gets cash, new CEO". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. Retrieved 2009-03-20.
  13. ^ Segal, Dave (2009-03-23). "Mesa ends deal with Mokulele". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. Retrieved 2009-03-23.
  14. ^ "Mokulele to start Honolulu-Hilo service". Pacific Business News. 2009-03-24. Retrieved 2009-03-24.
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