Domestic air seats are projected to increase 1.9 percent, while international air seats are forecasted to decline 9.3 percent between April and June, compared to the same period last year, according to a Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism (DBEDT) analysis of OAG flight schedules:

• Scheduled non-stop air seats to Hawaii from the U.S. West are projected to reach nearly 1.6   

  million during the three-month rolling air service forecast, up 4.9 percent over prior-year levels. 

  This increase is in a large part due to the addition of America West service from Las Vegas (to

  Kahului) and Phoenix (to Honolulu, Kahului, Kona, and Lihue); and Delta service from Salt Lake

  City.

• Scheduled air seats from the U.S. East are projected to decrease 10.7 percent between April

  and June.  Significant drops are expected to be seen from Houston (-33.0%) and Minneapolis (-

  40.1%), the MMA’s fourth and fifth largest gateways, respectively.  The U.S. East’s largest

  gateway, Chicago will experience a nominal decline in air seats (-0.5%), while the second

  largest gateway, Atlanta, will see a 14.8 percent boost in air seat capacity as Delta started

  new service to Kahului.

The forecast does not include new daily non-stop service between Oakland and Hilo, beginning April 27th on ATA Airlines.

          Click here to view U.S. Domestic Air Seats Growth Trends (Actual vs. Projected)

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