Hawaiian Airlines Reduces Big Island Flight

Hawaiian Airlines is reducing the number of flights between Honolulu and the Big Island starting next month. Beginning July 1, the airline will eliminate three round-trip flights to and from Hilo and Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airports daily, an airline spokesman said in an email Monday, the Hawaii Tribune Herald reported. "We are taking flights out of periods that have enough frequency to allow us to maintain the robust schedule of flying that our residents, in particular, expect," said Alex Da Silva, senior manager of external communications for Hawaiian Airlines. In the wake of the eruption activity in lower Puna, Da Silva said the airline has seen an anticipated impact on interisland travel, particularly to Hilo. When asked whether the flights would be added back to the schedule in the future, Da Silva said the airline will continue to monitor the situation, but focus will "remain on providing a robust flight schedule that meets the needs of our kama'aina and visitors."