The US Department of Transportation (DOT) has granted Kona Shuttle (Oakland International), a member-only executive virtual carrier catering to the needs of property-owners on the Hawai'i Island, an exemption to seek partners to add further routes out of Kona to mainland US.
The carrier, which currently offers only the Kona-Oakland International route using a B737-800 chartered from KaiserAir, is looking for a mainland US carrier to provide services between the airport in Hawaii and each of the Los Angeles and Seattle metropolitan areas.
According to the DOT filing, the services will continue to be operated in a member-only business model with no sales to the wider public. Only registered inhabitants of four residential and recreational compounds on the Kona Coast of Hawaii - Kukio, Hualalai, Mauna Lani, and Kohanaiki - their families, and guests will be entitled to fly on the route.
