Travel News Today

Hawaii state tourism officials indicate that they're confident that airlines providing flights between the U.S. mainland and Hawaii will quickly fill the void left by the sudden shut down of Honolulu-based carrier, Aloha Airlines on Monday, March 31.

Officials are also reporting that inter-island airlines have moved swiftly to boost air travel capacity around the Hawaiian Islands.

Aloha Airlines filed for its second bankruptcy in three years on March 20.

Reports that Aloha was short of cash and unlikely to find new investment money prompted other airlines to prepare contingency plans for its possible closure.

The seat capacity between the major Hawaiian Islands of Kauai, Oahu, Maui and Hawaii's Big Island bulked up almost two years ago when go! airlines began providing service.

As a consequence, there are three remaining airlines with significant capacity ­ Hawaiian Airlines, go! And Island Air ­ to pick up the slack left by Aloha's shut down.

In fact, the three carriers have now added about 10,000 new seats to Inter-island service by flying more frequent schedules and by adding aircraft.

Officials say this should adequately fill the gap left by Aloha, which would normally carry about 9,000 inter-island passengers daily at this time of the year.

For international passengers, alternate flights should be available aboard Hawaiian Airlines, United, American, Northwest, ATA, Continental, US Airways, Alaska Airlines and Delta.

Check out GoHawaii.com/AlohaAirlines for more information.