Four Airlines Seek To Keep Midway Atoll ETOPS Option

Four airlines are urging the US Department of Transportation to keep Midway Atoll [MDY/PMDY] in the Northern Hawaiian Islands, as an ETOPS diversion option. Japan Airlines, ZIPAIR, WestJet Airlines, and National Airlines have approached the USDOT to keep the small airstrip open as an alternate in case of an in-flight event over the central Pacific Ocean. The cost to renovate MDY up to current standards is estimated to be $100,000,000USD. Though rarely used as an ETOPS diversion, MDY stands as an airport for ETOPS diversions if needed. MDY is included as part of the Papahānaumokuākea National Wildlife Reserve, which emcompasses the Northern Hawaiian Islands. The atoll itself, is a sanctuary for sea birds, and marine mammals such as the Hawaiian Monk Seal.

The two Japanese carriers expressed that keeping MDY open, will allow their ETOPS operation between Japan and HNL to run more efficiently. Closing MDY as an ETOPS alternate will impact hundreds of other TransPacific flights from Asia to North America, including flights to/from HNL to Japan and the Republic of Korea.

There have been several instances where airliners were forced to make preventative landings at MDY. One was in June 2011, where a Delta Air Lines 747-451 was forced to land at MDY, after it departed HNL for KIX.

Further information in this Aero South Pacific article, and an earlier article.