HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.R. NO.

86

TWENTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2002

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 
   


HOUSE RESOLUTION

 

requesting united airlines to resume direct nonstop service between chicago and honolulu.

 

 

WHEREAS, in February 2001, United Airlines retired its 298 seat DC-10 aircraft fleet and announced that United would no longer fly any DC-10s; and

WHEREAS, until February 2001, United's DC-10 aircraft serviced daily nonstop flights between Chicago and Honolulu; and

WHEREAS, United Airlines is Hawaii's largest air carrier and the elimination of the popular nonstop service between Chicago and Honolulu ended the airline's only nonstop service from the Midwest section of the mainland to Hawaii, and eliminated 1,800 seats from Hawaii's air travel market; and

WHEREAS, at the time that United retired its DC-10 fleet, a spokesperson stated that the airline would not substitute another aircraft to service the Chicago to Honolulu route because it did not have an agreement with United pilots that could accommodate the change; and

WHEREAS, in October 2000, a United pilot spokesperson stated that although United has approximately seventy-five aircraft with the crew rest facilities required for the Chicago to Honolulu flight, those aircraft were being used on other routes; and

WHEREAS, because Chicago is a key interior origin point for mainland visitors traveling to Hawaii, elimination of the nonstop Chicago to Honolulu flight makes travel to Hawaii less convenient for a number of potential visitors; and

WHEREAS, resumption of United's nonstop service between Chicago and Honolulu would improve Hawaii's visitor market by making travel to Hawaii easier and less time consuming for visitors from the Midwest, and it would benefit Hawaii residents as well; and

WHEREAS, direct flights between Chicago and Honolulu would be economical for United Airlines because passengers would require less airline personnel to service passengers at check-ins, baggage handling, boarding, and arriving; take off and landings would be reduced, saving wear and tear on the aircraft; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-first Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2002, that United Airlines is requested to resume nonstop service between Chicago and Honolulu to improve air travel for visitors to Hawaii and for Hawaii residents; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the President of United Airlines, a representative of United Airlines pilots, the Governor of the State of Hawaii, the Director of Transportation, the Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, Chairperson of the Hawaii Tourism Authority Board of Directors, and the Executive Director of the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau.

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title:

United Airlines; Chicago to Honolulu Service