Hawaii’s oldest regional airline closed its doors April 1 after 40 years in the air when its last flight touched down as a result of a dispute with the FAA. The problem, said the family owned airline, was over printing and adhering to a guaranteed schedule. The FAA told the airline to print a guaranteed schedule several times in the past but let it slip because of Molokai’s condition. This time, however, it threatened $100,000 fines.
The airline resisted saying business did not lend itself to a guaranteed schedule because passengers were not steady enough to Kalauapapa, one of Molokai’s remotest sites. Alternative transportation to the former leper colony is a mule ride down a cliff-side trail. Pacific Wings indicated that it may launch service later this month from Molokai’s Ho’olehua airport with twice daily service.