Comments on: Pacific Wings Stops and Restarts Hawai’i Flights, Craziness Ensues

By: Ex PW Pilot

Ex PW Pilot — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 14:46:10 +0000

This type of situation isnt anything new for PW. To understand it one must realize they are not in business to make money in the first place, but is used primarily as a vehicle to get Kahlstorf’s name in the news at ALL costs. For their employees they make a point of going out of their way to cause drama by rescheduling when someone needs off, putting pilots that don’t get along together intentionally, and numerous other tactics. For the public they like to move their flights around without notice and have been known to resell the tickets of passengers who they dont like (that’s fun for a pilot when everyone shows up, let me tell you).

PW is a joke and should be shut down, however they’re not going out of business as they are not in business for the money.

By: Another Tom

Another Tom — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 02:38:22 +0000

This is the second security-related run in on Maui. Seems odd. But the flights dropped were the low-fare ones on the “PW Express” operation, which directly competed with other carriers. Quite frankly, I don’t see how you can run a low-fare operation with a Cessna 208.

Those flights that are left are indeed the EAS routes. And the whole schedule can be done with one airplane. Nonetheless, nobody is going to pay $246 (one way) for Hana-Kahului.

By: Dan

Dan — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 21:19:14 +0000

I once fueled once of those nine-seaters for a flight from LA to wherever it goes in Hawaii. And if you’re curious how it made it that far, they strapped in 3 150-gallon auxiliary fuel tanks. That was a LONG ride. 12 hours (I think) with a single pilot.

By: Dave

Dave — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 14:56:54 +0000

Pacific Wings all around runs what I would call a shady operation. I’ve never heard one good thing out of any pilot’s mouth about working there. Some of the pilots in the New Mexico Airlines operation that I knew from Denver said they had been asked on more than one occasion to pay for fuel out of their pocket. They smartly refused to fly until the company did instead.

They seem to be one of those outfits who try and pay their employees as little as possible and then get rid of them when they start complaining. A group of pilots in the Hawaii operation were all fired coincidentally not long after there were rumors they were going to try and form a union.

I don’t know if I’d honestly trust this CEO and I agree with CF that something doesn’t seem right here. Strange to blame flight reductions on a confrontation.

By: CF

CF — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 15:21:26 +0000

Dirk – This is different from Aviacsa in that the government shut down Aviacsa. This is just a self-imposed shut down by Pacific Wings, which makes it even weirder.

By: Dirk

Dirk — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 15:19:27 +0000

This sounds an awful lot like Aviacsa’s woahs with the Mexican government. They’re flying, then they’re not, then they are, then they’re not, then they are, and now they’re not. (That wasn’t for effect. They’ve actually been shut down 3 times in the last month).

By: David SFeastbay

David SFeastbay — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 15:16:37 +0000

While it’s a long drive to/from Hana, I certainly wouldn’t pay a lot of money to fly just to Kahului to connect to go somewhere else. Sounds like it’s time for Mokulele Airlines to use it’s 9 seaters in those smaller towns as scheduled service more then just charters. Since it’s using the E170 jets for inter island service, it could take the business away from Pacific Wings and be more stable for the locals and tourist to use and bring costs down.

Sounds like Pacific Wings wants to become Mainland Wings.

By: Dave

Dave — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 15:07:06 +0000

Its good service out there. I’ve flown them several times to Molakai and Kahului. I am now scared to go back as this stop and start stuff leaves me wondering if I’ll be left forever on Kalaupapa like a certain colony of lepers….
Seriously this service is essential to the residents and the tourists that travel to the remote parts of Hawaii. I hope this gets figured out. I really hope its not so they can send the planes to the mainland for more profitable routes.

By: Ron

Ron — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 15:06:59 +0000

I just read in the paper yesterday that EAS funding is growing by about 50% this year, to over 150 Million. This money must be on the radar of many airlines.