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There's a new airline in town, and you know what that means---Airfare War!
The new airline is Go (March 23) and it began offering one-way inter-island fares for $39. Of course Aloha and Hawaiian matched the fare immediately.http://bestsmileys.com/clapping/5.gif
Now for the fine print--You must book this by Friday (April 7, 2006) and travel between June 9, 2006 and Sept. 30, 2006, of course there are the usual restrictions... you know the drill. http://www.nonrev.net/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif
Since these fares are for a limited time, this post will be deleted April 8... no need to rub it in that some missed the boat, or in this case, the plane.
Thought for the day--
Time flies like the wind. Fruit flies like bananas.
--Groucho Marx
(I know, I'll get my hat) http://www.nonrev.net/infopop/emotic...on_biggrin.gif
Keep'em flying
edited for spelling and superfluous apostrophes... just too many apostrophes http://www.nonrev.net/infopop/emotic...on_biggrin.gif http://www.nonrev.net/infopop/emotic...on_biggrin.gif
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Okay, my two cents worth.
The "new" airline is actually Mesa, DBA go!, www.iflygo.com.
While the new low fares will be good for Hawai'i I think they will be short lived. The cards are stacked against go! and it doesn't seem likely they'll make a 'go!' of it. (pun intended http://www.nonrev.net/infopop/emotic...n_rolleyes.gif)
1. There are already 3 airlines that provide interisland service. There are only just so many customers to go around. And, go! isn't connected with any mainland carrier to feed them tourists. Their hope is to find a niche flying locals.
2. This is far from the first time someone has tried to invade the skies of Hawai'i. HA and AQ have never stood for outside competition and I don't think they will allow it this time. Their M.O. is to run the new guy out of town. To date they have been very sucessful in doing just that.
3. A little insider infomation from a reliable source I'm not allowed to reveal has it that Mesa is not in very good financial condition (okay, so most of the airlines industry is hurting). This source holds a good portion of Mesa's aircraft portfolio and knows just how far in arrears the company is on its lease payments.
With Mesa's financial condition and the airline business climate in Hawai'i in general it doesn't seem too likely that they will succeed.
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Thanks for the FYI, I was able to book my inter-island flights from HNL-LIH round trip for $39 one way on HA since they were matching Go's fare. It was wonderful in that, the interline rate for us is $25 one-way standby and with the taxes I think we paid around $33pp. So for almost the same price, I have confirmed tickets and can get FF miles for my trip.
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I'll take my finder's fee in chocolate chip cookies. http://www.nonrev.net/infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif
Keep'em flying
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Hi Randy,
Mesa is not in any type of a bad financial situation. I have worked for the company for 15 years and I have also been working with the team that is creating GO from the ground up. I am not in here to start a battle I just don't think that people should post unless they know what the facts are. You can read about Mesa's current financial state on their website, or the Wall Street Journal.
Peace,
B-
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Hi there! Point taken and my prediction is just that, a prediction. The venture will either be very profitable or very disastrous. The jury is still out on that one as go! has only been flying a few days now. I wish them all the luck in the world but history is not on their side.
The first point is just based on island aviation history. The locals aren't too friendly when it comes competition in the skies, a number of carriers have come and gone over the years. The difference this time is that Hawaiian is still recovering from bankruptcy and Aloha is still mired in it. So neither carrier is in a position to fight really hard. So that, in the end, may give go! what it needs to be successful.
The second observation is not anything that an typical employee or invester could really know. The financials on the company website would never reveal how far behind a company is on payments of any type. The person in question has access to this info because they are trying to sell the leases they hold on some Mesa aircraft. And Mesa is, in fact, behind on aircraft payments. Nothing critical, but enough that the lease holder wants out and are willing to sell at break even or even at a slight loss. So fortunately or unfortunately I do have some idea of what I speak.
So, anywho...welcome to the forum...where are you based?
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Something else...
For 1 or 2 days last week go! offered $19 fares for about 30 days but only thru the first week of July. We'll be back in Hawai'i in September so I jumped on their site to check validity dates only to find they were really limited in scope. $19 beats any interline agreement! Heck, even the $39 fare Mig. mentioned above comes close!
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Hi Randy,
I am based out of Pittsburgh. I agree Hawaii can be a very brutal market. I was very shocked when I first heard of our CEO's plan early last year to launch this new airline. I can tell you thus far the locals have been very supportive of our new venture as we brought in hundreds of new jobs to the islands. We will just have to wait and see what happens. Looks like Regional Jet flying may be Mesa's next venture in China......
Nice to meet you!
Brian
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The $39 fares have been very well received! Thanks to the low fares go! has been the talk of the town.
Most of my in-laws are in Hawai'i. We travel back to the islands regularly.
China? Really? If that happens I might expect a local Chinese investor using Mesa's experience in some sort of joint venture.
By the way I loved China!
