Wednesday, August 21, 2024 Hawaii trips face delays as Mokulele Airlines cancels international flights, impacting travel plans and causing disruptions for passengers. Mokulele Airlines, a regional carrier in Hawaii, has grounded the majority of its fleet this weekend due to concerns over possible inconsistencies in the documentation related to landing gear maintenance. This decision has left many passengers stranded throughout Hawaii.
In a letter shared with Hawaii Public Radio, Louis Saint-Cyr, Mokulele’s President of Hawaii Operations, explained that the airline discovered potential issues in its maintenance records. As a precautionary step, the airline decided to immediately ground specific aircraft to conduct detailed inspections before resuming operations. Residents of Moloka’i rely on Mokulele Airlines as their sole commercial link to neighboring islands.
The grounding of a significant portion of the airline’s fleet has left passengers stranded on O’ahu and Maui, prompting them to seek alternative transportation by boat to return home to Moloka’i. The disruption of flights across Mokulele Airlines’ network has significantly impacted travel to and from several key destinations, including Honolulu International Airport, Kahului, Kapalua, Hana, Kona, Waimea, Moloka’i, Kalaupapa, and Lāna’i. As a result, many passengers have had their travel plans disrupted.
The Hawai’i Department of Transportation reported that while Moloka’i was operating at half capacity on Sunday, the airline has since halted all new reservations. During this period of rigorous safety inspections, the airline will prioritize transportation for passengers with medical needs or those with connecting flights to the mainland. The recent grounding of Mokulele Airlines has caused widespread disruption, but for frequent travelers, it is just the latest in a series of frustrations.
Residents who depend on the airline’s services have pointed out that this isn’t the first time the carrier has faced operational challenges; earlier, the airline had to ground its Saab 340B aircraft due to a lack of a replacement engine. In light of this weekend’s developments, Mokulele has announced that if passengers are unable to be accommodated, they will receive a flight voucher for a future round-trip journey. Mokulele Airlines, a subsidiary of Southern Airways and Surf Air Mobility, is now operating under new management as it looks to broaden regional air travel through the introduction of electric flights.
In July 2023, Surf Air Mobility made its debut on the stock market with a direct listing on the New York Stock Exchange. Mokulele’s current fleet includes Cessna 208B Grand Caravan EX and Saab 340B Plus aircraft. Additionally, the airline has placed orders for 15 Regent Viceroy electric ground effect vehicles, signaling its commitment to advancing sustainable aviation technology.
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