Hawaiian Airlines boosts its interisland fleet

Hawaiian Airlines has made a major move to fill the gap left when Aloha Airlines shut down last March: More jets.

The Honolulu-based carrier announced today that it is adding four jets to its interisland fleet to fill increased consumer demand. Two of the Boeing 717-200 jets will begin service in September, with another two joining the fleet in November or December.

The additional jets will add even more flights to a Hawaiian Airlines schedule already boosted to more than 150 a day. Hawaiian Airlines flies between Oahu, Maui, Kauai and the Big Island, and operates several domestic and international routes.

Flights aren’t the only things Hawaiian Airlines has increased. Anyone who has flown interisland frequently in the last couple of months—present company included—will confirm that Hawaiian Airlines ticket prices across its schedule have gone up $20 to $30 per flight.

But in an era of soaring fuel costs, that’s likely what it takes to keep flying these days.