bob@islenet.UUCP (Bob Cunningham) (06/08/85)
You might be able -- on a temporary basis -- to fly between the U.S.
mainland and Hawaii on a foreign airline if Hawaii's proposal for cabotage
rights is approved.
Cabotage is the right of foreign airlines to carry passengers between two
U.S. points. It is generally disallowed by the U.S. government.
However, the United Airlines strike is now a month old. United provided
more than 1/2 the aircraft seats between the U.S. mainland and Hawaii (and
carried 80% of the mail, and provided much of the air freight). United has
been able to provide only an average of two flights a day to Hawaii, and
other U.S. airlines have failed to provide much more.
The result is a 17% reduction in expected tourists to Hawaii, a direct loss
to the tourist industry of $59.3 million (including indirect losses: 105.9
million). As many as 14,100 jobs in Hawaii may be at stake. These will be
the arguments that a delegation from the islands -- led by Lt. Gov. John
Waihee -- will present to federal Secretary of Transportation Elizabeth
Dole on Monday, in quest for allowing cabotage.
International carriers that have indicated interest include Qantas and
KAL.
--
Bob Cunningham {dual|vortex|ihnp4}!islenet!bob
Honolulu, Hawaii