N945WP Island Air ATR 72-212
HONOLULU (AP) — Hawaii’s second-largest airline, Island Air, shut down Friday after exhausting all options to keep flying. Island Air, which has about 400 employees, made the announcement Thursday.
The company filed for bankruptcy protection on Oct. 16 after its aircraft lessor attempted to repossess the company’s three remaining Q400 aircraft for nonpayment.
The airline lost money every quarter for the past four-plus years. It flew inter-island routes within the state of Hawaii. for 37 years.
“Island Air has taken every measure possible to avoid this tremendous hardship to its passengers,” said David Uchiyama, Island Air president. “Island Air appreciates the loyalty and supports its customers, management, employees, and vendors have shown the airline, especially during the last few weeks of this bankruptcy process.”
The airline said in a message on its website that passengers should contact their credit card company for inquiries on refunds. Hawaiian Airlines said it will honor Island Air tickets for the next week on a standby basis.
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“I want to thank Island Air for its decades of service to our communities,” Gov. David Ige wrote in a statement.
“The closure will have a tremendous effect on 400 employees and their families, and the state will be working with Island Air to help the employees apply for unemployment insurance and provide assistance with job searches and training opportunities.”
WIth reports from USA Today
