Mokulele announces new service to Lanai
With addition of Lanai City, Mokulele serves nine Hawaii locations
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The Maui News
Mokulele Airlines will launch twice-daily service between Kahului and Lanai City starting on June 17, the first new route since Southern Airways acquired the company in February.
"The addition of Lanai City gives us yet another route from our growing Kahului hub," Stan Little, the airline's chairman and chief executive officer, said in a news release Tuesday. "Not only will this route be great for locals, business travelers, government employees and tourists needing to make day trips between the two islands, but with our network of flights at Kahului, we can offer one-stop connections between Lanai City and five other Hawaiian airports."
Under the new schedule, departures from Kahului to Lanai City will take place at 7:05 a.m. and 4:15 p.m. daily, while departures from Lanai City to Kahului will be at 7:50 a.m. and 5 p.m. Fares start at $57 one way.
Southern Airways spokesman Keith Sisson said Tuesday that Mokulele has not had service to Lanai City since the summer of 2017. At that time, it was only once daily. The new twice-daily service will allow for same-day trips in both directions.
"This is perfect for the residents in Lanai City needing trips to Maui for medical appointments, shopping or visits to family," Sisson said.
Mississippi-based Southern Airways acquired Mokulele in February; once the two companies' operations are integrated, they will become largest commuter airline in the U.S. Little said in February that Mokulele was "the perfect complement to Southern." Both airlines flew the same type of craft and had similar operations. Officials with both companies said the deal would allow them to add more interisland routes and secure more agreements with big carriers.
With the addition of Lanai City, Mokulele will service nine Hawaii locations, more than any other air carrier, according to the news release. (Hawaiian Airlines services eight locations.)
The launch of Lanai service is the first in a series of announcements that Mokulele plans to make this year. The airline is also celebrating its 25th anniversary and plans to hold festivities across the state later this year. Mokulele was founded in 1994 by Rebecca "Kawehi" Inaba, who recently returned to the airline as the director of community relations.