Hawaiian Air Supports Cabotage for Manu’a

mark-dunkerley

The CEO of Hawaiian Airlines, Mr. Mark Dunkerley, says Hawaiian Air fully supports cabotage exemption for inter island travel in American Samoa.

The Senate bill granting cabotage waiver for domestic air service was initiated by Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Insualr Affairs, Esther Kia’aina after her first visit to the territory two years ago, during which she flew to the Manu’a islands.

A companion bill in the House was sponsored by Congresswoman Aumua Amata.

At present Polynesian Airlines’, the Samoa carrier, is flying to Manua on 30-day  cabotage waivers  issued by the US Department of Transportation but the bill now before Congress would grant 6-month cabotage waivers with certain conditions.

Appearing on the Samoa Sunrise show yesterday, the Hawaiian Air CEO, Mr. Dunkerely says Hawaiian Air understands what’s it s like providing air service to an island archipelago with unique needs.

But he makes it clear, that getting the cabotage legislation through Congress is a difficult task.

Play Audio


Before he left last night, Dunkerley met with the governor and fono leaders and paid a visit to LBJ Hospital where he shook hands with Hospital Authority board memebrs.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,