The Maui News Wednesday, August 18, 2004

On Friday, other tenants of the commuter terminal had been informed that the holding area on the south side of the terminal would be turned into a secure area with passengers screened by the Transportation Safety Administration. Pacific Wings, the other scheduled carrier using the terminal, protested, threatening to go to federal court if the Airports Division proceeded with the move Monday, as announced.

On Monday, the Airports Division changed its mind.

Tuesday's meeting brought together airport managers, Pacific Wings, Island Air and the Transportation Safety Administration.

Pacific Wings President Greg Kahlstorf, who took part through a conference call from the Mainland, said he insisted on his previous position, which is that if Island Air has grown too big to use the commuter terminal, it can move to the main terminal, where screening is already in place.

Island Air representatives could not be reached for comment after the meeting.

Kahlstorf said later that his company has hired an independent consultant to report on whether a scheduled airline using Dash-8 planes can operate efficiently at the main terminal.

That report won't be ready for two weeks, he said, but a preliminary comparison with the five airports where 37-seat Dash-8s operate with bigger planes indicates it should not be a problem.

Island Air is doubling its fleet to 10 Dash-8s. Pacific Wings flies nine-seat Cessna Caravans.

The other tenants at the commuter air terminal, all smaller than Pacific Wings and using smaller planes, were not at Tuesday's meeting.

Kahlstorf said he got a commitment that they would be invited to any further meetings, though he said as far as he is concerned the question is closed: Island Air should operate out of the main terminal.

So far, the latter airline is continuing to use the commuter terminal at Kahului.