Mesa Announces Sale of Mokulele Turboprop Operation
News Release from Mesa Air Group 11-15-11
MESA AIR GROUP, INC. announced the sale of Mokulele Flight Services, Inc., its inter-island turboprop service operating four, nine seat, Cessna Caravan aircraft to Scottsdale, Arizona based Transpac Aviation, Inc. Mesa will continue to operate its jet inter-island service as go!Mokulele. Under the terms of the sale Transpac Aviation, operating as Mokulele Flight Services, Inc, will also continue to offer service under the go!Mokulele brand and serve it's current routes as a code-share partner. Passengers will continue to book reservations on both the jet and caravan service on www.iflygo.com and www.mokulele.com for seamless travel to the destinations served by both airlines. Existing reservations booked on the caravan service will be fully honored.
"This sale was a part of our strategic plan to concentrate on our inter-island jet service," said Chairman and CEO, Jonathan Ornstein. "We believe this sale will allow us to focus on growing and expanding our low cost jet service to the people of Hawaii, particularly our loyal o'hana, and importantly, the alliance with Transpac Aviation will ensure that the smaller cities of Hawaii will still have critical air service and will provide a tremendous platform for the future growth of the go! and Mokulele brand. We are also happy to announce that current Mokulele employees will remain with the Mokulele Flight Services to ensure a seamless transition for our valued customers." continued Ornstein.
Transpac Aviation, Inc CEO Ron Hansen said, "Hawaii has always been a special destination to me both as an airline pilot and as former CEO of several world wide air charter companies. It is very exciting to return and have the opportunity to serve the people of Hawaii by offering quality, low cost inter-island transportation. This partnership announced is an exciting and positive step for go!Mokulele and its passengers. We look forward to working with our new partners at Mesa and are confident that Mokulele Flight Services will continue to meet and exceed our passengers' expectations".
Mesa currently operates 87 aircraft with approximately 465 daily system departures to 96 cities, 37 states, Canada and Mexico. Mesa operates as US Airways Express and United Express under contractual agreements with US Airways and United Airlines, respectively, and independently as Mesa Airlines and go!Mokulele. The Company, founded by Larry and Janie Risley in New Mexico in 1982, has approximately 2,700 employees and was awarded Regional Airline of the Year by Air Transport World magazine in 1992 and 2005. Mesa Website: www.mesa-air.com
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