Senate Passes Bill that Encourages Air Carriers to Service Remote Areas in Hawaii
HONOLULU – The Hawaii State Senate today passed Senate Bill 2960, relating to aeronautics. The bill would suspend landing fees for air carriers that provide interisland service to rural airports, which include Kapalua, Hana, Kalaupapa, Lanai, Molokai and Waimea-Kohala airports.
This measure encourages commercial air carriers to continue service to the remote parts of our State,” said Senator J. Kalani English, chair of the Senate Committee on Transportation and International Affairs. “In effect, I hope it increase reliability and stabilize air fares,”
According to a Department of Transportation report, flight activity at Kalaupapa, Kapalua, Hana, Waimea-Kohala and Lanai has steadily declined over the last five years. The decrease in service was more pronounced at the airports served by smaller aircraft exclusively. For example, Hana airport saw nine-hundred flights last year, a decrease of 21-hundred flights from 2006. Those nine-hundred flights last year were non-commercial or private air carriers. Meanwhile, Waimea-Kohala airport saw seven-hundred flights last year, compared to 2-thousand flights 2006.
The bill is headed to the House for consideration.
Posted by Hawaii Senate Majority Caucus | 0 commentsThe flight service to the rural airports serves as a lifeline to other parts of the State for residents living in those areas, especially for those needing vital medical attention,” added Senator English, who represents Hana, East and Upcountry Maui, Moloka’i, Lana’i and Kaho’olawe.
