go!'s N655BR

Our June edition of "HNL RareBirds Classic" goes back to June 2006, and the launch of Mesa Airlines' go!, that would be the third entrant in the inter-island against Aloha Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines. N655BR (msn 7457, f/n 655) was one of three CRJ-200ERs to wear the original go! livery, and is seen above, on the Elliott Street ramp, a few days before the airline commenced operations.

7457 was originally delivered to Atlantic Coast Airlines (ACA), operated by United Express, in December 2000. Independence Air [DH/IDE] acquired N655BR in June 2004, and flew until the airline's shutdown in January 2006. Five months later, Mesa Airlines acquired N655BR, and assigned it to its go! subsidiary. In June 2009, this CRJ-200ER was sold to Mexicana as XA-EMI for its Mexicana Link subsidiary. After Mexicana shutdown in 2011, Air Wisconsin acquired it as N471ZW (f/n 471) for US Airways Express. When American Airlines acquired US Airways, this CRJ-200ER became part of the American Eagle fleet, with the fleet number Z71. In late 2017, Air Wisconsin assigned N471ZW to United Express (f/n 471), where it continues to fly.

Aloha ‘Oe go!

Mesa Air Group's go! flies its final inter-island flight tonight, with ASH43 from ITO to HNL, as they close their Hawai‘i operations. The 100+ employees will probably transfer to their mainland contract operations, and the five CRJs will be ferried back to their base at PHX.

According to Hawai‘i News Now, their final day got off to a bad start with ASH1021 (HNL-OGG) canceling because of a mechanical issue, and afternoon flights delayed.



04.01.14 Update

Both N27318 and N407SW are parked at their Commuter Terminal gates.

04.08.14 Update
N407SW departed for PHX today as ASH1100.

go! To Cease Hawai‘i Service

The Mesa Air Group announced this afternoon that their go! Hawai‘i operation will cease on 31 March 2014, and their five CRJ200s will be reassigned within Mesa's network. go!'s last flight will be on March 31st. Their website has the formal announcement on their home page. No word was given as to the displacement of the go! employees. The airline is in the process of sending three of the five CRJs back to their PHX base.

go!'s present CRJs: N27318 (above) and N407SW (below).
N37178, N75994, and N75995 have already been ferried back to PHX.

Interestingly enough, when my wife & I were at OGG last month, we came across N407SW without any go! markings on the tail nor fuselage, while waiting for our return flight to HNL. It appears that tail logo and the fuselage logo were painted over. Was this a sign of things to come?

go! began service in June 2006 with five CRJ200s, and their fleet size never exceeded those five CRJs. Even when Aloha Airlines shutdown in 2008, they did not seem to gain any market share from Aloha's demise. Mesa never had a dedicated maintenance base at HNL, though they used the Leis hangar next door to Kamaka Air for minor maintenance and checks. For heavy checks, CRJs were flown to Phoenix and swapped out. The livery changed to the current (see top photo), as the original five CRJs were rotated out of the go! fleet. go! also had short-lived code-shares and partnerships with Mokulele Airlines and Island Air.



03.18.14 Update
The Pacific Business News is reporting that Island Air owner Larry Ellison was extremely close to purchasing go!'s operation, but backed away due to go!'s financial situation; and that Larry Ellison is interested in purchasing the rights to the Aloha Airlines name.

go!'s N407SW

go! recently brought in N407SW (msn 7034), a CRJ-100LR, to replace one of go!'s other CRJ200s. It seen above on the Commuter Terminal ramp, and note that it lacks Mokulele titles.

This CRJ-100LR was with SkyWest Airlines (OO/SKW) from March 1994 to August 2011, under lease from Bombardier Capital. It was originally ordered by Lufthansa Cityline as D-ARJK, but was not taken. It flew for Delta Connection (1994-2009), and had the Delta/SkyWest livery, and the 2000 livery. In 2009, it went to Midwest Connect (a SkyWest regional), until the end of its lease. The Mesa Air Group acquired N407SW in September 2011.

PlaneSpotters.net has N407SW listed as a CRJ-100LR, while Airliners.net has it listed as a CRJ-200ER, we'll try to see which listing is correct.

Hau‘oli Lā Hānau go!

Five years ago today, go! launched its inter-island service as the third player along with Aloha Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines. The Mesa Air Group subsidiary continues to operate with a fleet of five CRJs (four 200ERs, and a 100ER). Since then, their livery has been modified to what is seen in the top photo, and the airline merged with former rival Mokulele Airlines, and renamed itself go!Mokulele. go! serves the major Hawai‘i airports, while Mokulele serves the smaller markets.

go!'s N75995

go! has added N75995 (c/n 7361), their second CRJ200ER with red Mokulele titles on the fuselage and tail logo.

Not sure which CRJ200 it replaced, or if this is an addition to the fleet.

7361 was originally delivered in 1999 to Kendell Airlines (Australia) as VH-KJJ. Kendell was a partner of Ansett Airlines. After Ansett folded in 2003, the CRJ200 was acquired by Wells Fargo Bank, leased to Mesa Airlines, and became N75995. It first served with US Airways Express then United Express.

go!'s N75994

go! has added CRJ200ER N75994 (msn 7367) to their fleet. The Mokulele titles are also painted red on the fuselage, and were added to the tail logo as well. It's the first CRJ200ER with the modified titles. N75994 arrived Friday as ASH1101 from OAK.

Prior to go!, N75994 served with Mesa Air Group's United Express and US Airways Express.

On Wednesday, June 9th, go! celebrates its fourth anniversary.

go! Adds Mokulele Titles to CRJ200s

go! has added Mokulele titles to all six of their CRJ200 fleet. As seen above, the titles are smaller in size, and placed in the rear part of the passenger compartment. N77278 (msn 7278) is seen taxiing to the Commuter Terminal ramp on Taxiway G.

go!'s N591ML

go! received their sixth CRJ200, N591ML (msn 7388), and has been put into service. It's not wearing any go! titles nor markings, but does have a small "Operated by Mesa Air Group" sticker by the main entry door.

N591ML was previously with Kungpeng Airlines, United Express, US Airways Express, and Midway Airlines.

N591ML is seen above taxiing on Taxiway L, to depart on Runway 8L to ITO as ASH1036.

Mesa Settles With Hawaiian

Mesa Air Group, go!'s parent comapny, has settled with Hawaiian Airlines, and removed its appeal over the $80M award to Hawaiian by the US Federal Court.

The Honolulu Advertiser's article link.

go! Moving More Aircraft to HNL?

In the past week, as seen below, an all-white CRJ with go! titles has been seen flying out of HNL. Today, another one was spotted on the ramp. N77278 was parked amongst two other CRJs in the normal go! livery as well as an Aloha 737-700. Is this a move by go! to be prepared to secure Aloha's passengers should their bankruptcy end in a chapter 7? Or are they simply rotating aircraft in and out without spending the money on the full livery? There are plenty of rumors floating around and only time will tell. 

Another Pic of Go!'s newest jet

Just a better shot of N27314. I wasent sure how to add a comment with a picture so here it is.

New CRJ for go! in different livery

Mesa has apparently sent a new CRJ for go! and it is a different livery than the other CRJs. This new one has an all white fuselage and tail with the go! titles in blue on the fuselage and a blue square on the tail with the go! titles in white. Not sure of the registration, as I only saw it from my office and cannot make it out in the picture.

Update...I finally got a good look at the registration and it is N27314. It seems that this aircraft was flying in United Express colors prior to this.

Mesa Air's go! ruffles feathers

An article by Ben Mutzabaugh in USA Today's "Today In the Sky" has been written about Aloha Airlines recently filed lawsuit against Mesa Air Group (Nasdaq: MESA) and the go! Hawaii operation.

The article reveals that before Mesa started go!, two confidentiality agreements were signed saying Mesa "only would use confidential information to pursue an investment." with Aloha.

The article also gives more national coverage to the rank and file HERO website that says they are "trying to expose predatory tactics and misleading statements" from Mesa Air Group's CEO and other Mesa/go! executives.

go!'s N649BR

Mesa Air has taken delivery of its 6th CRJ200, N649BR (msn 7414). Not sure if 649 has been delivered to go!, here in HNL, or if it's still at PHX at the Mesa facilities.

go!'s 5th CRJ200

N651BR (c/n 7426) is the 5th go! CRJ200 to arrive @ HNL. With the 5th aircraft in the fleet, go! will begin Hilo (ITO) service on June 30th.

go!'s 4th CRJ200

go! has received their 4th Bombardier CRJ200, N646BR (c/n 7392). go! will also begin service to Hilo (ITO) by the end of June.

go!'s Media Event

go!, the Mesa Airlines venture into the Hawaii inter-island market held a media event to unveil service which begins on June 9th. Mesa CEO Jonathan Ornstein led the event that featured music group Big Every Time. Members of the media and Mesa executives were treated to a preview flight which flew around Maui and back to HNL.

Two more CRJ200s are due to arrive by the end of June.

A big Mahalo to the folks at go! and Bright Light Marketing for allowing me to attend this special event, and be on the media preview flight.

go! aircraft at the Commuter Terminal

Here's how go! will be parking their planes at the Commuter Terminal. You can see the lead-in lines for the middle and right spots. Looks like they will need a pushback tug for departure.

go!'s N693BR

go!'s 2nd CRJ200, N693BR (c/n 7761), arrived today and is parked on the Elliott Street Ramp.