Hawaiian carrier Go! into talks with Island Air

Hawaiian airline go! now has a new president in Chris Pappaicanou. The airline seemingly looks upbeat over this development. The joining of Oahu-based president for Phoenix-based Mesa Air Group Inc.’s interisland subsidiary go! airlines has come as a signal that the airline is ready to solidify its Hawaii operations. Until now, Pappaioanou was Mesa Air Group Inc.’s vice president and general counsel.

Media reports had earlier said that Oracle Corp. CEO Larry Ellison, who had purchased most of the island of Lanai in 2012 and interisland airline Island Air earlier this year, was looking forward to buy go! from the Mesa Air Group Inc., but the deal had been scrapped.

The new president of go! Pappaioanou was quoted in media reports as saying that Mesa Air Group Inc. is currently into discussions with Island Air for potential opportunities to work together, but he was so far not involved in these discussions. The reports said that Pappaioanou was likely to be involved into discussions if a potential acquisition was finally discussed.

Pappaioanou was also quoted as saying that after becoming the president of go! a great opportunity has been provided to him for being directly involved in the go! operation. He said that this was really a chance of a lifetime for him to take on an operational role now.
 
Pappaioanou said that he believed that there are a lot of ways in which go! and Island Air can work together. This may be through some type of acquisition or some other arrangement. He said that in whatever this comes about he is fully supportive of this.