"Go!" Rhymes with blow and "No Johnny O!"...
 

Mesa Air Group names its new Hawaiian airline 'go!'
Thursday March 23, 5:07 pm ET


When Mesa Air Group Inc. decided to make a go of flying inter-island routes in Hawaii, they weren't kidding. The new airline's name is "go!" and it's set to start flying June 9, Mesa officials said Thursday.

According to Phoenix-based Mesa (NASDAQ: MESA - News), the airline started taking reservations mid-morning Hawaii time on Thursday, and will offer one-way fares of $39.

"We are delighted to initiate service in Hawaii," said Mesa Air Group Chairman and Chief Executive Jonathan Ornstein. "Our goal is to provide local families, friends and business people with a fun, high-quality and low-cost airline for travel between the islands. We chose the name go! because we think that's what people want: A reliable, quick, no hassle way to get from point to point across the state."

To kick things off, go! will hold a job fair at the Ala Moana Hotel in Honolulu April 2-3 for flight and ground operations, maintenance and administrative positions.

Mesa Air Group currently operates 180 aircraft with more than 1,050 daily system departures to 166 cities, 44 states, the District of Columbia, Canada and Mexico. Mesa operates as America West Express/US Airways Express, Delta Connection and United Express under contractual agreements with US Airways Group Inc. (NYSE: LCC - News), Delta Air Lines (Pink Sheets: DALRQ - News) and United Airlines (NASDAQ: UAUA - News), and independently as Mesa Airlines.

For more: www.iflygo.com, www.mesa-air.com.

Published March 23, 2006 by The Business Journal

So I take it this is something like what TSA did with Go Jet? A non union airline?

No, it is still ALPA, in fact same seniority and all. Just starting something new I guess. We'll see how it turns out.

thanks mesa for starting a fare war. a fare war is just what our industry needs. GO home

bizjournals.com
Fare war! Hawaiian and Aloha post $39 fare
Thursday March 23, 3:37 pm ET


Aloha Airlines posted $39 one-way interisland fares Wednesday night. Hawaiian Airlines matched the offer within 30 minutes.
Aloha, declaring that it was rolling back the clock, unveiled "Funbird Fares" for travel between Honolulu, Kauai, Maui, Kona and Hilo, during the period June 9 through Sept. 30, if purchased from now through Apr. 7. The name refers to Aloha's 1960s semi-psychedelic design, which the airline said it will bring back on at least one of its jets.

Hawaiian, in matching the fare, said it would begin selling seats at the $39 price after 5 p.m. Thursday.

"For 60 years, Aloha has been part of the fabric of Hawaii, and Hawaii's people know us as part of their family," said CEO David Banmiller. "We're rewarding their loyalty."

"Our customers have always been able to rely on us for the best possible fares," said Hawaiian CEO Mark Dunkerley in matching the new ticket price.

Orange was the "in" color when Aloha rolled out its new Boeing 737 aircraft in 1969. The Funbird design featured a spray of bright yellow, gold and orange plumeria on the plane's orange tail, a swath of orange across the fuselage and the name Aloha in bold orange letters. Legend has it that the president of Boeing was appalled by the design but it was an instant hit with the flying public. Aloha ordered orange Flower Power uniforms to go with it.

Aloha, originally known as Trans-Pacific Airlines, will mark its 60th anniversary on July 26. But behind the fun retro campaign is a serious effort by Hawaiian, Aloha and Island Air to solidify their positions before the Mainland carrier Mesa Air launches interisland service this summer.

No... not that bad, but I still say anything JO touches isn't worth the paper I have on a roll in my bathroom... and like previously posted- the last thing the industry needs right now is a cutthroat fare war.

Well, now it's almost certain that one Hawaiian airline will go down as a result of this. No doubt, Go will see poor loads the few months but since Mesa has a lot of cash they could probably go on for a while. On the other hand I don't know how long Aloha and Hawaiian can match $39 each way tickets. It's going to be a fierce battle over there but even with the deep loyalty of the Hawaiian people I don't think they would be loyal enough to pay extra money to keep an old Hawaiian airline flying.

I think they'll find that Hawaiians are the "largest" consumer of SPAM per captia in the world (followed by Alaskans). Most inter-island locals will not be the FAA standard 185lb passenger so what kind of future do they have running the jets half full at $39 per seat?

well I think/hope that Mesa will have the same problem as independence, being that Aloha and Hawaiian will simply match every fare. If you are a traveler and you search for flights...will you take "go" or Alhoha for the same price?? I doubt anybody will choose "Go" for the same price on a smaller plane.

Yes, but you have it backwards. Mesa has a lot of money, and many other profitable ventures to carry the HI operation for an extended period....how long can Hawiian and Aloha match low fares throughout their primary market? It all comes down to how long is JO willing to stick it out.

If I were a MAG employee I would be upset. The CEO is p!!sing away your pay raises come contract time running CRJ's for $39 a ticket...

PAY RAISES!!!!!!! Were Getting PAY RAISES!!!!!!! All right no more govt cheese.

Ha ha govt cheese!!! It would be funnier if it weren't true.

I would be too. The whole thing might be a strategic move, designed to "fail" next year just in time for contract negotiations so Mesa can negotiate from a "downsizing" position. The junior PFT pilots at Mesa are terrified of getting furloughed since they are generally unemployable elsewhere.

JO will soon be announcing reduced pilot wages to go with his reduced fares at Go.

Well, hopefully there are enough people out there that won't accept this. I Know for one I will not budge on a contract with less pay or benefits, I don't care if offers us 777's to fly the islands with. Hopefully most in the regionals will soon learn they have everything to gain from helping the industry get back on its feet. They need to rememeber that the disgruntled capt's don't have to work in this environement for many more years. If your 25 -30 this should greatly worry you as you have the next 30+ years to deal with the web your weaving. :(

xtremeF150

hmm..well true, but how much of Aloha's flying is Mesa covering?? 4-6 planes is not a lot... I'd guess that Aloha and Hawaiian make bank bringing people from the mainland. I'm guessing they can match a few routes at $39.... But you are right, JO can afford to last longer. But, i'm guessing he will never fill his flights.

What kind of press is he getting over there? is the average traveler excited about this new airline?? where they very high in the first place?? Indy had a warm welcome all over the east coast thanks to the high ticket prices out there.

XtremeF150,

Well said. I couldn't agree with you more. A number of Mesa guys and gals on here are saying "wait until 2007". I hope for their sake, as well as everybody else here that they're right!

I suspect that the way this is going to work out is that some locals will stick with the legacies, since they also use them to go to the mainland.

Mesa will get some local traffic, but I'd bet dollars to pineapples that a code share with one or more mainland majors will be announced soon...the mainland tourist traffic will go for the codeshare so they can stick with THEIR home airline and get their frequent fliers. I'm guessing confidently that that is a key part of the business plan.

The 4-6 planes is just for starters...and it sounds like 900's are in the long-term plan.

Hawaii is brutal on aircraft. GO will be GONE when the first "C" Checks come around.

C Checks? Lot cheaper to just to pick more used 200s at the ol' desert lot...