WestJet and Mokulele announce partnership

[KAFUFO]

WestJet and Mokulele announce partnership

Monday December 8, 6:05 pm ET


Airlines announce partnership to serve inter-island travellers


CALGARY, Dec. 8 -- WestJet today announced a partnership with Mokulele Airlines, an inter-island airline based in Kona, Hawai'i. The partnership, designed to enhance service for inter-island travellers, follows an announcement last month by WestJet that the airline was increasing their Hawaiian service to 23 flights per week. This partnership with Mokulele allows those guests travelling with WestJet greater access and convenience in connecting to the many islands served by Mokulele as well as providing the people of Hawai'i greater access to WestJet's network of 51 destinations.


WestJet Executive Vice-President, Commercial Distribution, Dr. Hugh Dunleavy said, "This partnership will provide our guests greater access across the Hawaiian Islands and will assist our guests booking with WestJet Vacations in planning their ideal vacation. Our long-term goal is to be the dominant air carrier to Hawai'i from Canada, and this arrangement helps us move towards this achievement."


Commenting on the arrangement with WestJet, Mokulele CEO Bill Boyer remarked, "We are proud to be sought out as a partner by an airline with the kind of award-winning reputation that WestJet enjoys. This alliance increases vacation options for Hawaiian residents who may find Canada more attractive in these hard times since the American dollar goes further in Canada. I recently flew on WestJet to Calgary and was impressed with the inflight experience. Their customer service is one reason why they are one of the most profitable airlines in North America," he added.


Mokulele and WestJet are finalizing details of an arrangement to promote each other on their respective websites. WestJet Vacations, a division of WestJet, will also be selling sightseeing air tours on Mokulele Airlines.


About Mokulele Airlines


Mokulele Airlines is a locally owned and operated inter-island airline based in Kailua-Kona, Hawai'i. Founded in 1998 as Mokulele Flight Service Inc., it was acquired by current CEO Bill Boyer in 2005. Today, the airline is a scheduled U.S. carrier with commuter services and now jet service operated by Shuttle America. Mokulele also offers volcano tour flights as well as inter-island cargo service. Mokulele Airlines currently has a fleet of two Embraer E170 jets with another arriving in December, a fourth arriving in March and options for two more in summer 2009. Mokulele Airlines has seven 208B Cessna Grand Caravans, including a dedicated freighter, and operates 85 daily departures to seven cities in Hawai'i. Mokulele Airlines markets and sells tickets directly to passengers via its website www.mokuleleairlines.com.


About WestJet


WestJet is Canada's leading high-value low-cost airline offering scheduled service throughout its 51-city North American and Caribbean network. Named Canada's most admired corporate culture in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008, WestJet pioneered low-cost flying in Canada. WestJet offers increased legroom and leather seats on its modern fleet of 76 Boeing Next-Generation 737 aircraft, and live seatback television provided by Bell TV. With future confirmed deliveries for an additional 45 aircraft, bringing its fleet to 121 by 2013, WestJet strives to be the number one choice for travellers.

[twinpratts]

I guess the jungle jet would be an ideal size airplane for this...

[whiteguy]

Funny how a Dash 8 isn't good enough for WS guests but a Caravan is>

[daveg]

True, but at least westjet will be around next year.

[Clint23]

shut it up dave.

True, but at least westjet will be around next year.

[Four1oh]

Seriously Dave, give it up already.

[The Fish]

Can we put this guy back on his leash, er..... maybe a choker chain this time

[WJ700]

Dave....

Go ahead and wish for AC's demise. You'll see how bad it can be for WestJet with the same 90% market share AC/CP was handed overnight and absolutely no way to fill it or sustain it. That will lead to full cabotage and a whole new game. Even if AC has to go CCAA again, its a game changer because they are not even required to pay their bills under such protection. Rivalry is fun and competitive, pissing hate on someone is another. It does nothing for WestJet and its employees than make them look bad.

In summary... STFU!

[flathead]

I would place a quick shinny brown bill that daveg is nota westjet employee, rather simply a POSwho wishes to stir the pot. I sure do wish we could boot people from here who are obviouslynot wanted

[tonysoprano]

Sorry guys but daveg is indeed a wj pilot. I've had some pretty convincing pm posts with him. Does anybody here remember a poster by the name of 2Low? Yah. He was very similar if not worse. Everyone was denying he was a wj pilot but I found out he was indeed a wj FO and got his real name after he got kicked off the forum. These guys make Blastor or rebel look like panzies. In the old days we had a company called Canadi>n that hated AC this much. History repeating itself? I hope not. I know you guys are much better than that. We may all be on the same seniority list someday. Anyway, just proof that even in our industry, psychos can slide in to some highly professional positions I guess. These guys were reccomended by someone? Wow.

[jjj]

I suppose that in the event of a merger, precedent has been set and WS pilots would get the shaft after an arbitration process.

That would be a mess of monumental proportions and would make the AC/Canadian merger look like a walk in the park.

Imagine the shitstorm!!!

NEVER SAY NEVER!!!



jjj

[tonysoprano]

You're right. Unfortunately the precedent has been set. It seems the older the pilots, the better seniority you would get. I think that would put you guys at a slight disadvantage. But hey, look at it this way, you would get to fly some different machines and inherit some headspinning politics. Scary huh?

[Four1oh]

fancy Iron ain't everythin. Just give me lots of days off and a paycheck to own a the toys needed to enjoy said days off.

[tonysoprano]

...yes Four1oh. That too. Thought that was obvious. Geesh.

[jjj]

Yep we would get the shaft. But I'm sure in someone else's point of view this would be fair. It's difficult to be the arbitrator of what is is right and wrong. In the end, someone will have to take it up the hoop - fair just doesn't exist when it comes to mergers.

Let's see, with my handful of years in i might then be able to retire in the right seat of the Jungle Jet. Do i have to move?. Dammit, 'nother full initial and type rating. Oh well, at least it's more sophisticated than a '37. Hope I pass the ground-school.


jjj

[tonysoprano]

Yep we would get the shaft. But I'm sure in someone else's point of view this would be fair. It's difficult to be the arbitrator of what is is right and wrong. In the end, someone will have to take it up the hoop - fair just doesn't exist when it comes to mergers.

...hence the need for both companies to survive doing what we do differently. There has never been more than one major airline in this country. Probably never will be if the past taught us anything. So you do your thing, we'll do ours as best we all can and live happily ever after. No more mergers, please.

[RB-211]

Tony,

I think it is pretty clear that AC will need to merge with someone in the not too distant future or it will be lights out. Flag carriers world wide are consolidating and 2009 will be the year that this process really takes off.

As our CEO says, consolidate or die. AC is ripe to be taken over.........

So who is going to be?

[tonysoprano]

RB.
I don't know about lights out. If you understand the nature of AC and the services it renders to the canadian economy, not to mention the number of employees (over 20,00 worldwide, nothing compared to BA but still sizeable in canadian terms), it would not be in the best interest of the country to turn the lights out on this one. Would your british government let BA go under? Don't think so. All it needs is someone capable and knowledgeable of the industry.
I think it might be someone within the Star Alliance. But when I look at that one, I only see Lufthansa as the only one in the airline-buying business these days. So your guess is as good as mine. Also, if you look at what's happening in other industries, it seems that governments are getting more involved in the loan business to keep jobs alive. In the end, that might be the other option. I prefer the airline to airline way but you are right, AC for many reasons, should be run by people who are already succesfull in the business. I suspect that once the labour contract are ratified and the pension issue resolved, someone will (or won't) make a move. IMO, 2009 will be a very challenging year which will see us losing money but also keeping the stock price down making it an easier buy(?). Everything alse being right.

[RB-211]

Tony,

I am just saying that AC will not exist as it does now in say 5 years. It is safe to say that many carriers will not and that may include my own.

Do I think the British/Canadian governments would let their flag carriers fold? The answer is yes. Only a fool would think that they would have the full protection of their government, especially in a time of such high over capacity. There are plenty of others that could pick up the scraps. The likely scenario would be a massive restructuring that would in effect be a new company minus all the pesky contracts.

Lets face it, AC is in a difficult position. Milton has buggered the company in more ways than one and the company itself is getting it from both sides. WJ on one end and the premium carriers on the other. I think they would be a steal at current market price to be honest. Once the pension issue is sorted you would have a valuable asset to say the least.

Funny this just popped up....

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/ ... y=airlines

Good luck in 2009.

[yycflyguy]

I used to do some volcano tours for Mokulele on the Big Island when they only had C-337 and C-206's. They are all grown up now wearing big boy pants... or did Shuttle America just use their OC to move into the islands? I believe it was the introduction of the Mesa group there that was the ultimate demise of Aloha.

Let's see, with my handful of years in i might then be able to retire in the right seat of the Jungle Jet. Do i have to move?. Dammit, 'nother full initial and type rating. Oh well, at least it's more sophisticated than a '37. Hope I pass the ground-school.

I am your proof that any monkey can do it.... push button, get banana. Look at the bright side, no more trips to the central de-ice facility as the only ice found in Hawaii is in your Mai Tai.

[tonysoprano]

RB.

There are plenty of others that could pick up the scraps.

Maybe in Britain. But here in Canada there are no companies that I know of that would be willing to become a Legacy carrier. It's just not worth it. Everyone has their niche. I see changes coming in the industry as well but you and I will continue to go about our jobs in the same way we always have. Only the administrative part will change. Interesting article indeed. Looks like some of my predictions might actually happen. Here's hoping.
Sorry for the hijack Mokulele folks.

[YWGVOR]

I am your proof that any monkey can do it.... push button, get banana. Look at the bright side, no more trips to the central de-ice facility as the only ice found in Hawaii is in your Mai Tai.

Actually...
http://www.skihawaii.com/

And I have ridden my bike up Haleakala in Maui several times and there was ice patches on the road at 10000 feet...

[yycflyguy]

Yeah, Mauna Kea and Mona Lona get snow capped peaks as well but they didn´t have airfields up there when I was there! Definately need to check out the observatories, coffee farms and of course, the green sand beach on the Big Islands south side.