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FAA certifications hold up Hawaiian air cargo expansion plans

HAWAIIAN Holdings' plan to expand inter-island air cargo service under its Ohana by Hawaiian brand to Maui, Kauai and the Big Island has been delayed until later this year as the parent of Hawaiian Airlines waits for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to certify three French-made ATR 72 turboprop aircraft purchased for the service.

The company announced the expansion of additional cargo flights between Honolulu International Airport and Kahului, Lihue, Kona and Hilo last summer, and said then the additional flights would launch in the first half of this year, the Pacific Business News reported.

Hawaiian Holdings, parent of Ohana by Hawaiian and Hawaiian Airlines, is awaiting FAA certification for three ATR 72 aircraft that will be used to expand air cargo service between Honolulu and Maui, Kauai and the Big Island.

Hawaiian president and CEO Mark Dunkerley said that one of the ATR 72s, which have been converted for cargo service, is from Africa, while the other two are from Canada. This means the FAA must issue supplemental type certificates, or STCs, for modifications previously certified by officials in Canada and Europe.

Mr Dunkerley said that while the first of several required STCs has been issued, it is unknown how long the process will take for the others. He said Hawaiian now hopes to launch the additional air cargo service by the end of this year.

The three are in Idaho awaiting certification, and they will be operated by Empire Airlines, the Idaho-based contractor that also operates the airline's ATR 42-500 passenger aircraft on Ohana by Hawaiian's interisland routes.