With crude oil prices flying high at well over a hundred dollars a barrel, airfares have no other way to go but up. The Hawaii Tourism Authority has been in serious talks with more airlines to jump into the Hawaii market as a way to help offset those rising costs and bring more visitors in.
"Those new entries are gonna help to kind of stabilize the airfares, create a more competitive atmosphere, and I think the end result is that the consumers are gonna benefit," said David Uchiyama, of the Hawaii Tourism Authority.
The HTA is looking at national carriers that could provide service from the West Coast. There have been rumors that Southwest Airlines, known for discount fares, could be flying to Hawaii. Uchiyama isn’t confirming anything but an announcement about a new airline will be made by the end of the month.
"There’s a couple of carriers that we’ve been having lengthy discussions with, (that) we’ve been working with over the last couple of years, and I think we’re coming to a point very shortly where we’ll be able to make some announcements," Uchiyama said.
Internationally, the HTA wants more flights directly to Kona. Big Island tourism was hit hard when Japan Airlines stopped its daily flights to Kona in 2010. Uchiyama says, in addition to Honolulu, Kona is primed to be a second port of entry for international visitors.
"We’re talking about carriers that are already in the market but are looking for expansion within the state, and they still see Kona as an opportunity," he said.
The HTA is also looking to get a boost in visitor numbers this summer. That’s when Hawaiian Airlines starts flying directly to New York, while United Airlines brings in direct flights from Washington DC.
See the original article at: KHON2 Local News
