I'm not here to rip on the RAH pilot group, Pilot5. I am one, or rather, I was. I know Mokulele has done a much better job of marketing itself to the local flying public than go!, and I've no doubt we offer a better product. I'm referring to the pilot groups of the hometown inter-island carriers: Hawaiian (our main competitors), Island Air (those guys that make more than us flying DHC-8s), and the ex-Aloha pilots (who, if I'm not mistaken, are not among the people so graciously hired by RAH). I know quite a few of these guys, the latter group in particular. I've been dialed into the painful process of finding them government training money and new jobs. They don't see Mokulele in the same positive light.

I'm glad our crews got a friendlier welcome than Mesa. As to whether it's appropriate to "insult" the portion of the RAH pilot group who bid a new base with no contract... with the company proudly violating their agreement with their pilot group in the middle of contract negotiations... as the union (however ineptly) tells them not to bid it... while more than a hundred of their own pilots are still on the street - that's another topic entirely.

 

Sounds familiar as in mainline on the mainland via "express" partners. The folks keep logging on, buying tix and showing up.