Hawaiian Airlines has kicked off its island hopping cargo service by flying construction and household supplies to Lihue to repair homes damaged by last April’s storms.
The ATR-72 was loaded with 462 kilos of construction tools at Honolulu’s Daniel K. Inouye International Airport bound for Lihue International Airport to be used by Kauai Habitat for Humanity repairing homes for low income residents affected by last April’s storms.
A second flight to Hilo International Airport carried 823 kilos of furniture for 20 micro-houses built by HOPE Services Hawaii to shelter families affected by the ongoing Kilauea volcano lava flow.
The items were packed by employees at City Mill, and the flight to Hilo also contained 23 boxes of school supplies collected by Hawaiian employees and delivered to Pahoa Elementary.
Hawaiian Airlines president and chief executive officer, Peter Ingram says: “We are honoured to utilise our new cargo operation to help support our neighbours in need. We couldn’t think of a better partner in this effort than City Mill, another long-time kama’aina company.”
The airline’s new cargo fleet consists of two ATR-72s, and services will be expanded to include flights to Kahului Airport and Kona International Airport when two more aircraft arrive next year.
Ingram says: “The ATR-72s enable us to meet the cargo needs of our customers and businesses while streamlining and growing our shipping operations throughout Hawai‘i and beyond.”
The ATR-72s can accommodate up to seven LD-3 containers, the same type carried by aircraft flying on transpacific routes.
Hawaiian Airlines managing director of cargo services, Brad Matheny says: “We are excited to offer our customers a ‘one-stop-shop’ for all their cargo needs. The ATR-72 is the perfect aircraft to get the job done and symbolises our continued dedication to our community as Hawaii’s hometown carrier.”
