Is this the end of interisland flying?

[Trash8Mofo]

Maybe we are seeing the beginning of the end of the interisland flying. At the very least, it could take a big bite out of it (sure we have heard ferry talks before, but this seems pretty solid).

So my questions are: Can we still afford to pay Boeing drivers to do interisland? If not, What are the proportion of 200 lines vs 700 lines at AQ, and 717 lines vs 767 lines at Hawaiian? Can the trans-pac operations absord the reduction of interisland in the next few years? Bust out your cyrstal balls, tell me what you think.

http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2004/Mar/06/ln/ln03a.html

 

[Hansoma]

It might make a dent in the local vacation travel market. I imagine that it would be really attractive for someone to be able to take their car and their whole family with them to aonther island. As for mainland visitors, I don't know how they'd responde. The end of interisland, unlikely. JMHO.

 

[HAL]

It might happen, but interisland flying won't go away. Too many people like the speed, using it like a bus service; to HNL in the morning, back home in the afternoon.

And ferry service has been tried before in the islands. The probem there is the ocean conditions. Have you seen the swells out there in the winter time? No matter how big and fast the ferry is, three hours on a bucking bronco between Oahu and Maui isn't everyone's cup of tea.

It may make a dent in interisand service, or it may be another expensive boondoggle like before. Either way, it won't mean the end of interisland flying.

HAL