LIHUE >> Island Air is departing Kauai for the last time Sunday night. That leaves Hawaiian Airlines as the only inter-island carrier going to the island.

The Garden Island newspaper reports that Island Air decided to stop going there after a $21 million loss last year.

Hawaiian Department of Transportation Spokesman Tim Sakahara says multiple airlines are interested in filling the opening created by Island Air’s departure. Island Air had been making an average of six round-trip daily flights to Lihue Airport.

Kauai has led the four main Hawaiian Islands in visitor growth this year compared to the same time last year.

The airline says downsizing is difficult but necessary to achieve sustainable profitability. The change results in the loss of about 20 Island Air jobs.