Hawaiian Airlines has temporarily suspended its service to American Samoa, after reporting damage to its Boeing 767 aircraft on the Pago Pago runway June 13 and Monday of this week. The airline cut flights it had scheduled for today and tomorrow, saying it needs to assess the condition of the Pago Pago runway and wants the Federal Aviation Administration to look at it.
Hawaiian said foreign objects from the runway entered both engines of a plane June 13, delaying its return to Honolulu for 17 hours while repairs were done. The same thing happened to a different plane Monday, delaying its return for 19 hours. Mark Dunkerley, Hawaiian president, said the airline cannot afford to send another plane to Pago Pago until it is assured there won't be any damage to the aircraft.
Meanwhile, Hawaiian, whose $58 million loss last year contributed to its March 21 Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing, earned $14.3 million, before taxes, in May, according to its monthly statement of operations filed with U.S. Bankruptcy Court.
The carrier, which lost its trustee Tuesday when John Monahan resigned, has now reduced its loss, before taxes, for the first five months of the year to $1.9 million.
On an operating income basis, Hawaiian had a gain of $15.9 million last month and is in the black for the year with a profit of $3.1 million.
Hawaiian's unrestricted cash and cash equivalents grew in May to $45.8 million from $35.9 million at the beginning of the month but still considerably below the $71.9 million it was at when the year began. The airline listed its total assets as of May 31 as $278.5 million and its total liabilities as $350.8 million.
Penguinflies From United States of America, joined Apr 2000, 975 posts, RR: 0 Reply 2, posted (9 years 12 months 19 hours ago) and read 3372 times:
Could be, and it's surprising that the planes had almost a 1 day delay. I'm wondering if HAL knows who HA contract maintenance at their international stations?
Hopefully, American Samoa can resolve this issue so that these flights can resume.
Hawaiian717 From United States of America, joined May 1999, 3095 posts, RR: 8 Reply 4, posted (9 years 11 months 4 weeks 15 hours ago) and read 2931 times:
Hawaiian has been given temporary approval to fly to Apia in Western Samoa until the PPG runway can be repaired.
Aeri28 From United States of America, joined Dec 2000, 617 posts, RR: 0 Reply 5, posted (9 years 11 months 4 weeks 13 hours ago) and read 2866 times:
I wonder how long it will take to repair the runway? Also, I wonder if that will cause some inconveniences to US citizens without a passport (do you even need a passport to enter Am. Samoa? or does a birth certificate suffice as it does in Mexico/Canada?), or will they have some sort of 'transit' agreement with Samoa Air. But if the flights arrive APW at night, then one would be forced to spend the night in Apia before continuing on the puddle jumper to PPG.
Ha763 From United States of America, joined Jan 2003, 3494 posts, RR: 6 Reply 6, posted (9 years 11 months 4 weeks 11 hours ago) and read 2798 times:
Even American citizens need a passport to enter American Samoa so this will be no problem. You can only stay for a limited time unless you are a resident of, was born in, or have a job in American Samoa. To enter without one, it takes approval from the American Samoa government.
I should check with my friend, but I already know that people will have complained to HA about this situation.
Aeri28 From United States of America, joined Dec 2000, 617 posts, RR: 0 Reply 7, posted (9 years 11 months 4 weeks 8 hours ago) and read 2699 times:
well, I just called Hawaiian a few hours ago and she told me that she does not know when the PPG will be brought back, and as far as the Apia landing, she didn't know when that would start either as it hasn't been officially set yet.
I asked her what they are telling people who need to get to Pago Pago, and she is directing them either to Polynesian Airlines from HNL to APW then PPG, or suggesting Air New Zealand from HNL to AKL to APW then PPG. So, it doens't look like Hawaiian has too many options right now. That route is sort of a life blood for American Samoa, isn't it?
Im wondering what they did to pax who were scheduled to return to the states from Pago Pago?
(lots of stories here: http://www.samoanews.com/HawaiianAirNewsUpdates.2003/story1HAupdate.html
Penguinflies From United States of America, joined Apr 2000, 975 posts, RR: 0 Reply 8, posted (9 years 11 months 3 weeks 4 days 20 hours ago) and read 2533 times:
Hawaiian Samoa route may resume
PAGO PAGO, American Samoa >> Hawaiian Airlines could resume flights between Honolulu and American Samoa as early as Thursday, an airline spokesman said.
The flights are pending Federal Aviation Administration approval of the main runway at Pago Pago International. FAA personnel are scheduled to inspect the repaired airstrip Thursday morning, airport officials said.
Repairs to 6,000 feet of runway got under way Friday and was completed Sunday, according to contractor GMP Associates.
The carrier suspended its route June 24, after two of its aircraft were damaged from debris on the runway. A plan for Hawaiian to operate temporarily between Apia, the capital of the island nation of Samoa, has been canceled.
Syncmaster From United States of America, joined Jul 2002, 1983 posts, RR: 14 Reply 9, posted (9 years 11 months 3 weeks 4 days 19 hours ago) and read 2493 times:
HAL From United States of America, joined Jan 2002, 2472 posts, RR: 53 Reply 10, posted (9 years 11 months 3 weeks 4 days 15 hours ago) and read 2376 times:
What kind of repairs had to be done?
From what I've seen, I hope they repaved the entire thing. It was a mess!
HAL
One smooth landing is skill. Two in a row is luck. Three in a row and someone is lying.
Ha763 From United States of America, joined Jan 2003, 3494 posts, RR: 6 Reply 11, posted (9 years 11 months 3 weeks 4 days 13 hours ago) and read 2338 times:
All they did was spray on a binder for temporary repairs. A picture of the repair work is at the top of the page listed below. Actual resurfacing is supposed to start in a couple of months.
Penguinflies From United States of America, joined Apr 2000, 975 posts, RR: 0 Reply 12, posted (9 years 11 months 3 weeks 3 days 19 hours ago) and read 2231 times:
this story was published regarding the amount of mail, it seems even military flights have been suspended to the island...
Penguinflies From United States of America, joined Apr 2000, 975 posts, RR: 0 Reply 13, posted (9 years 11 months 2 weeks 4 days 11 hours ago) and read 2145 times:
The runway still has not met FAA standards after being inspected. Mail was flown via special charter to Samoa and went through customs to get to American Samoa. The situation seems larger than what the airport thought.
The article:
"Pago Pago airport still closed
American Samoa's main airport at Pago Pago still was not able to accept traffic yesterday because its runway has not been cleaned up enough to meet Federal Aviation Administration standards, said Tweet Coleman, FAA Pacific representative in Honolulu.
A contractor was working on the runway yesterday and FAA officials would take another look at it today, she said. Coleman said there was still loose aggregate on the strip, stones that could fly up and endanger aircraft.
Hawaiian Airlines, which runs three flights a week to American Samoa at this time of the year, stopped flying there June 6, saying the poor condition of the runway damaged two of its aircraft. Hawaiian said a flight that had been scheduled for yesterday was canceled.
"
Aeri28 From United States of America, joined Dec 2000, 617 posts, RR: 0 Reply 14, posted (9 years 11 months 2 weeks 4 days 10 hours ago) and read 2082 times:
I called them the other day (again) because I have an interest in this story, and they told me they were not taking any bookings until at least end of July (I think he said the 27th but I dont' have a calendear in front of me).
Most of those flights were heavily booked to Pago Pago and return, and I wonder if Polynesian has increased service from APW to HNL at least?
Hawaiian717 From United States of America, joined May 1999, 3095 posts, RR: 8 Reply 15, posted (9 years 11 months 2 weeks 3 days 10 hours ago) and read 1893 times:
Penguinflies From United States of America, joined Apr 2000, 975 posts, RR: 0 Reply 16, posted (9 years 11 months 2 weeks 3 days 9 hours ago) and read 1823 times:
Aeri28 From United States of America, joined Dec 2000, 617 posts, RR: 0 Reply 17, posted (9 years 11 months 2 weeks 3 days 9 hours ago) and read 1807 times:
I wonder if they' ll have any special "we're back" fares???
Probably not since there probably are several stranded in PPG and HNL..
Would be nice though, I'd consider it! (and fly onward to Apia that is...)
Aeri28 From United States of America, joined Dec 2000, 617 posts, RR: 0 Reply 18, posted (9 years 11 months 2 weeks 1 day 10 hours ago) and read 1643 times:
Nice pic of Hawaiian Airlines return to Pago Pago.
Penguinflies From United States of America, joined Apr 2000, 975 posts, RR: 0 Reply 19, posted (9 years 11 months 2 weeks 16 hours ago) and read 1473 times:
Another new release in the Saturday Starbulletin
"Hawaiian loses money to refunds
Hawaiian Airlines, stuck in bankruptcy proceedings, has lost an estimated $100,000 to $200,000 in refunds to many of the passengers stranded because of a runway shutdown in American Samoa.
Hawaii suspended all flights between Honolulu and Pago Pago International Airport on June 24 because of the runway's substandard condition. Flights resumed Thursday.
Reservations workers have said that roughly 30 percent of passengers have declined to use their tickets, and instead want refunds, said Hawaiian spokesman Keoni Wagner. Hawaiian had scheduled an extra flight for Sunday, but canceled it yesterday because of lack of demand.
Meanwhile, Hawaiian said yesterday that International Lease Finance Corp. has given it a third extension of the period for restructuring its leases on four Boeing 767 aircraft. After court approval, the new deadline is Aug. 31.
"
Sponsor Message: 
From United States of America, joined Apr 2000, 975 posts, 
From Israel, joined Sep 2000, 3167 posts, 
It was a mess!
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