Hawaii’s Transair to cooperate with Pacific Air Cargo

Honolulu-based Transair reached an agreement with Pacific Air Cargo under which the two carriers would cooperate to provide scheduled cargo services connecting the U.S. mainland to multiple destinations in Hawaii. Under the agreement, Pacific Air Cargo will tap into Transair’s inter-island network to connect Honolulu to the neighboring islands, while Transair will gain access to the mainland.

“Today’s agreement extends the already existing co-operation between our two companies and will provide a greater reach for both of us,” said Beti Ward, founder and CEO of Pacific Air Cargo, adding that the partnership “will now allow us to add seamless daily connections to all the neighbor islands.”

Los Angeles-based Pacific Air Cargo currently operates six weekly cargo flights from LAX to HNL, using a leased Kalitta Air 747-200F. The airline had operated inter-island cargo routes in the past, but ended the service in 2011, citing low demand.

Transair – Hawaii’s oldest continuously operating all-cargo airline, providing service since 1982 – operates a fleet of Bombardier SD3-60s and three 737-300 freighters to Kauai, Maui, Kona, Hilo, Lanai and Molokai. The carrier also offers cargo charters to all points within the Hawaiian Islands.

“For many years Transair has enjoyed a strong working relationship with Pacific Air Cargo,” said Teimour Riahi, Transair’s president and CEO. “Today we have extended that relationship, enabling Transair to offer our neighbor island customers direct cargo services to their markets in California and beyond.”