The Maui News

A new agreement between Hawaiian Airlines and Southern Airways, which owns Mokulele Airlines, will help streamline bookings and connections for passengers who often have to make multiple purchases when flying out of state from airports like Molokai and Lanai.

The new agreement means that passengers can purchase connections from Mokulele-served airports like Molokai, Lanai and Kapalua to any Hawaiian Airlines destination worldwide in a single transaction, according to a news release Monday from Hawaiian Airlines. Upon check-in at the originating airport, they will receive boarding passes for their connecting flights.

Interline passengers traveling from the Continental U.S. or abroad who are flying on Hawaiian Airlines will also benefit from having checked luggage transferred automatically to their Mokulele destination.

“We are pleased to work with Mokulele to make traveling to and from Molokai, Lanai and Kapalua easier for guests,” said Theo Panagiotoulias, senior vice president of global sales and alliances at Hawaiian Airlines. “We look forward to enhancing our service to residents of these communities.”

Interline passengers will also receive flight protections such as hotel accommodations and rebooked flights in the event of certain flight delays or cancellations by either airline. Because the partnership between the two airlines is bilaterial, connecting tickets are available for purchase through Mokulele.com, online travel sites, travel agencies or by calling Hawaiian Airlines.

“Mokulele is pleased to establish this partnership with Hawaiian Airlines,” said Stan Little, chairman and CEO of Southern Airways/Mokulele Airlines. “We believe our airlines working together will advance our shared goal to benefit the people of Hawaii.”

Southern Airways, which purchased Mokulele in 2019, operates more than 150 daily departures throughout the Hawaiian Islands, according to the news release. Hawaiian Airlines offers 130 flights within the islands and nonstop service between Hawaii and 24 destinations in North America, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Tahiti and American Samoa.