Three Airlines Vie For The LNY EAS Contract

With the Essential Air Service (EAS) contract to serve LNY up again, three airlines are vying for the Federal Aviation Administration award. Incumbent Mokulele Airlines, along with Pacific Air Charters, and Cape Air have submitted bids to the FAA for the EAS. Mokulele won the previous two-year contract in 2024, and is poised to try to renew it.

Pacific Air Charters has three P2012s based at HNL, with more on order.

Cape Air, based at HYA [Cape Cod Gateway Airport, Hyannis, MA] has a fleet of 64 Cessna C402s and 30 P2012s (with 70 on order). Cape Air also has an interline agreement with Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, and United Airlines.

Further information in this Hawai‘i News Now report.

Essential Air Service To LNY Up For Bid

On 08 February 2024, the US Department of Transportation issued a for proposals for Essential Air Service (EAS) to LNY. Mokulele Airlines plans to cancel non-subsidied EAS service to LNY, as it has become unprofitable for them to continue serving LNY, due to rising fuel prices and other costs. Lānaʻi is eligible under federal law to receive government-funded EAS for the size of the airport and the community that it serves. Currently, Mokulele is the only commercial airline to fly scheduled passenger service to the "Pineapple Island".

Mokulele/Southern Airways made it known to the US DOT, that it would need federal subsidies to keep the LNY service sustainable, if not profitable.

Local inter-island charter company, Pacific Air Charters is expressing interest in the LNY EAS, with their Tecnam P2012 Travelers.

Lānaʻi Air has a Cessna C408 SkyCourier for shuttle flights to LNY, but has yet to start service. Much of Lānaʻi Air's service is done via private charter with their Pilatus PC-12/47s.

Massachusetts-based commuter airline, Cape Air, that has a service in Guam, expressed interest in the LNY EAS.

Further information in this Civil Beart article, this Hawaii News Now report from 18 March on Cape Air and report on Pacific Air Charters, and Eddie Dowd's Instagram blooper.