Continental’s flight from Orange County arrives in Honolulu at 12:45 p.m., a time that will give travelers : Travel Photo
For the first time in two years, an airliner will take off to the west from John Wayne Airport – and keep on going.
Continental Airlines is scheduled to launch it’s non-stop service from Orange County to Oahu on Sunday. The kick-off of the service will include a festive send-off for the first flight to Honolulu that is supposed to include hula dancers, musicians, and a traditional Hawaiian blessing at the departure gate.
Continental’s flight from Orange County arrives in Honolulu at 12:45 p.m., a time that will give travelers enough time to get in some same-day beach time at Waikiki, seen here.
The airline will offer daily flights to and from Honolulu and four-times-a-week service to and from Maui. Both routes will be served by long-range Boeing 737-700 aircraft.
For Orange County fliers, it’s the first time in two years they won't have to go to Los Angeles International Airport to catch a non-stop flight to one of the top destinations for local vacationers.
Aloha Airlines was flying non-stop from John Wayne to Oahu, Maui, Kauai and the Big Island until it declared bankruptcy March 30,2008 and stopped service the next day. Aloha officials said at the time that the Orange County-Hawaii services were profitable and that the bankruptcy was due to heavy loses caused by cut-throat pricing in the three-way competition on inter-island routes between Aloha, Hawaiian Airlines and upstart go!, bankrolled by Mesa Air Group. Mesa filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in January 2010, but go! continues operations.