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Interisland Hawaiian carriers Mokulele and Makani Kia have begun a merger process.
Beginning June 8, all Makani Kai distribution will be conducted only through Mokulele channels, including in the GDSs.
The remaining integration will continue through the summer and should wrap up by early fall, said Keith Sisson, chief marketing officer for Mokulele. The merger was announced last week.
Hawaii currently requires travelers going between islands to quarantine for 14 days. The order lifts on June 16. Makani Kia, which has grounded all flights since early March, will resume service on four routes per day beginning June 16, Sisson said. Mokulele has typically operated more than 40 flights daily during the Covid-19 crisis, he added.
Both airlines fly single-engine, nine-seat Cessna Grand Caravan aircraft.
Makani Kai has never sold through the GDSs, according to Sisson, so the merger will mean travel advisors will have access to additional interisland flights. Hawaiian and Southwest also fly interisland routes.
Makani Kai also has two twin-engine Piper Chieftain aircraft, which they used before the pandemic for service between Honolulu and the resort community of Princeville on the island of Kauai.
Hawaii continues to require visitors from abroad and the mainland U.S. to quarantine upon arrival for 14 days. But once the Princeville route resumes, flyers will be able to use Mokulele’s codeshares with American and Alaska for a single booking from the mainland to Princeville, which is located on the north coast of the island, approximately an hour from the main Kauai airport in Lihue. No other carrier flies to Princeville.
Mokulele is owned by Mississippi-based regional carrier Southern Airways Express. Makani Kai is owned by Hawaii-based Schuman Aviation.
Source: travelweekly.com