Hawaiian Airlines’ long awaited inter-island service could be about to take flight, according to the airline’s CEO Mark Dunkerley.
The subsidiary airline Ohana by Hawaiian is finalizing the certification process with the Federal Aviation Administration and may be ready to start services in weeks, he said.
The service was originally planned for a summer 2013 launch date but was delayed due to the US federal government budget cuts last year.
This prevented FAA inspectors from traveling to Hawaii to supervise the flight test program.
The FAA restarted the certification process late last year.
"We are reluctant to make firm promises, but we certainly hope in the next few weeks to be up and running," Dunkerley said.
Once approved to commence services, the airline will operate three 48-seater ATR 42 aircraft, the first of which was delivered earlier this month.
Initial routes will be from Honolulu International airport to Lana’i and Moloka’i.
In the future the airline plans to run further services to West Maui, and between Hilo and Kona and Lihue.
