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Island Air (officially Hawaii Island Air, Inc., doing business as Island Air) is an independent commuter airline owned by Gavarnie Holding, LLC, primarily serving interisland flights in Hawai'i. Its International Air Transport Association code is WP and International Civil Aviation Organization code is MKU.
Equipped with a fleet of turbo prop airplanes, Island Air is the only carrier that flies to Kapalua on Mau'i and the islands of Moloka'i, and Lana'i. It also flies to Lihue Airport, Hilo International Airport, Kona International Airport and Kahului Airport. Honolulu International Airport in Honolulu, Hawai'i is its hub.
Princeville Airways
Island Air was incorporated in 1980 by Consolidated Oil and Gas as Princeville Airways, based in Colorado. It served a regular commuter route between Princeville on the island of Kaua'i and Honolulu, primarily for Princeville Resort hotel guests. The Princeville Airways fleet consisted of eight Twin Otter aircraft.
Aloha IslandAir
In May of 1987, Consolidated Oil and Gas sold Princeville Airways to Aloha Air Group, the parent company of Aloha Airlines. Princeville Airways was renamed Aloha Island Air and served the growing interisland commuter needs that Aloha Airlines could not accommodate with its larger jetliners. In 1992, Aloha Island Air trademarked the name Island Air.
Hawaii Island Air
In December 2003, it was announced that Gavarnie Holding, LLC would purchase Aloha Island Air from the Aloha AirGroup, making Island Air Hawaii's third largest independent airline. The purchase was completed on May 11, 2004 and the company was renamed Hawaii Island Air, Inc., although the airline continued to do business as "Island Air."
After the purchase, Island Air expanded its business, acquiring more aircraft and flying new routes.
Aircraft
In 1995, newly renamed Island Air was granted certification by the Federal Aviation Administration to operate larger aircraft to serve the burgeoning commuter market in Hawai'i. In April of that year, Island Air took possession of its first thirty-seven seat de Havilland aircraft.
The Island Air fleet currently consists of de Havilland turbo prop aircraft. With approximately fifty daily flights, Island Air is the leading commuter carrier of Hawai'i.
Resources
- Island Air (http://www.islandair.com/wp/index2.shtml)
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