HONOLULU- The company that operates commuter Cessna flights under a code share agreement with go! Airlines voluntarily grounded its fleet of four aircraft Friday, resulting in as many as 46 cancelled flights.
Mokulele Flight Services Incorporated, which also does business as Transpac Aviation, said an internal audit showed the company had missed a maintenance deadline, but that it was not a “safety-of-flight issue.”
Ian Gregor, Pacific Division spokesman for the Federal Aviation Administration, said the company discovered certain aircraft components in the wing flap system of the Cessnas may require immediate replacement.
The four Cessna Grand Caravan Aircraft carry a total of nine passengers each. The turboprop airplanes fly to and from Honolulu, Kahului, Kona, Lanai and Molokai.
"We've been working in good faith to ensure that we are in complete compliance with all applicable record keeping regulations,” Ron Hansen, chairman and CEO of Mokulele Flight Services, said in a statement. “We regret and apologize that we are causing inconvenience to our customers, but we will continue to work in good faith until we satisfy all of the technical issues related to this matter.”
At the commuter terminal at Honolulu International Airport, several passengers scrambled to find alternative flights to Molokai Friday afternoon, after their original bookings were cancelled by Mokulele Flight Services.
“I started early this morning, so it's been several hours for me and I just wish I could get to where I was supposed to be right now,” said one Molokai bound traveler, who identified himself as Dr. Tony of Hilo.
Some passengers took their flight cancellations in stride. Davianna McGregor, an ethnic studies professor at the University of Hawaii and part-time Molokai resident, was thankful Mokulele Flight Services was taking passenger safety seriously.
“I think the main thing is that they are concerned about our safety and that's important,” said McGregor. “They've been very helpful,” she added. “They've been trying to do their best to arrange for us to get alternate flights.”
Mokulele Flight Services said additional flight cancellations were likely to occur Saturday.
Cameron Hiro, a Molokai resident visiting Oahu over the weekend, expressed concern whether his flight back home to Ho'olehua would be cancelled.
“That did cross my mind,” he said. “I'm supposed to go back on Monday morning and I haven't called them yet, but it is a concern - definitely.”
None of the flights operated by go! on its Bombardier CRJ200 jets were impacted by Friday’s grounding.
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