Originally Posted by rokgpsman

I didn't mean why didn't they buy NEW replacement planes for the 757's getting retired. Everyone knows they don't buy new. I meant why didn't they replace them with planes of similar age as was the first group of 757's they bought? If it was a good move and correct decision back then it should be so again. That is their MO, buy low cost well-used planes that still have some decent time left. Not doing so means they have other reasons for pulling out of Hawaii market than just having to get replacement planes. The excuse of ending Hawaii service because they don't want to spend on the expensive recertification doesn't wash, they knew that cost would occur when they bought the planes and they planned to retire those original 757's and buy other used ETOPS aircraft. They said the 757's were very profitable for them, "printing money" as was said earlier. Something changed in their thinking about service to Hawaii, and after that they stayed in it only long enough to get the most value out of the 757's they had already bought before not being allowed to fly them any longer. They must have had unforeseen problems or other costs come up that moved them to abandon Hawaii. They've cut service to other places when profits didn't meet expectations but service to Hawaii was announced with big fanfare, along with talk of adding new routes to just outside USA resorts like Cancun and Puerto Vallarta. That was going to be a big leap forward into high profit routes.

Originally Posted by rokgpsman

service to Hawaii was announced with big fanfare, along with talk of adding new routes to just outside USA resorts like Cancun and Puerto Vallarta. That was going to be a big leap forward into high profit routes.

Originally Posted by Autothrust

I may be wrong but I think it was Levy who wanted to do the near international and Hawaii. I really think he had big ideas for this place. Since he has gone I believe they have decided to just do what we have always done and stick with the proven business model.

Originally Posted by crxpilot

They have a lot of exploiting to do in the lower 48 thats low hanging fruit. Why get bogged down in international or etops when you can take the path less complicated and makes lots of money?

Originally Posted by rokgpsman

The excuse of ending Hawaii service because they don't want to spend on the expensive recertification doesn't wash

Originally Posted by ValuGiant

You can guess and analyze all day long about why they aren't in the Hawaii market anymore. The reality is that people will actually fly a real airline out to the islands and spend the extra money in order to avoid a 52 hr delay that seemed to become a regularity when the Hawaii service was at its peak. G4 ruined their name in the Hawaii market. They didn't put on their big boy panties and pay the money to do the job right. Now it's time to leave.

Originally Posted by fishforfun

And announcing 9 new routes with 2 new cities today.

Originally Posted by KC135

The HNL loads have always been constantly high and nothing has changed with the market or profit margins over the years. There are just way to many other new routes to focus energy on that offer up to over 3x the margins that HNL offers.

Originally Posted by akemps

Yeah, Palm Beach (PBI) from Pittsburgh?! Do we even fly to palm beach? PIT is growing fast and it hasn't even opened yet.