The parent of go! Mokulele, which merged the two airlines’ interisland operations in October 2009, has sold the turboprop service it acquired as part of that transaction.
Phoenix-based Mesa Air Group Inc. said Tuesday it sold its four nine-seat Cessna Caravans to Scottsdale, Ariz.-based Transpac Aviation Inc. for an undisclosed price. Mesa will continue to operate its jet interisland service as go! Mokulele. It has five 50-seat CRJ-200s in the fleet.
Under the terms of the sale, Transpac Aviation will operate as Mokulele Flight Services Inc. and continue to offer service under the go! Mokulele brand. It will serve the current routes as a code-share partner with Mesa.
Passengers can continue to book reservations on both the jet and caravan service on www.iflygo.com. Existing reservations booked on the caravan service will be honored.
"This sale was a part of our strategic plan to concentrate on our interisland jet service," Mesa Chairman and CEO Jonathan Ornstein said. "We believe this sale will allow us to focus on growing and expanding our low-cost jet service to the people of Hawaii."
Ornstein said the alliance with Transpac Aviation will ensure that smaller Hawaii cities will continue to have air service, as well as provide a platform for the future growth of the go! and Mokulele brands. He said that current Mokulele employees will remain with Mokulele Flight Services.
Ron Hansen, CEO of Transpac Aviation, said, "Hawaii has always been a special destination to me both as an airline pilot and as former CEO of several worldwide air charter companies."
"It is very exciting to return and have the opportunity to serve the people of Hawaii by offering quality, low-cost interisland transportation," Hansen said. "This partnership … is an exciting and positive step for go! Mokulele and its passengers."
Mesa became a privately held company after emerging from 13 months in Chapter 11 reorganization bankruptcy in March of this year.
In addition to operating go! Mokulele, Mesa is a regional carrier for US Airways (US Airways Express) and United Airlines (United Express) and also flies independently as Mesa Airlines.
