Go!Express

Go!Express was the regional service brand of go!, the Hawaii-focused airline operation associated with Mesa Air Group. It was not a separately certificated airline carrier. Instead, the name was used to market flights operated by partner airlines under agreements with go! and its parent company, Mesa Air Group. The concept emerged in September 2006, when Mesa announced an agreement with Mokulele Airlines. Under the proposed arrangement, Mokulele would operate Cessna Grand Caravan aircraft on behalf of the Go!Express service, connecting smaller Hawaiian airports with Honolulu and other islands. Operations began on April 17, 2007, with service from Kapalua to Honolulu, Kahului, and Kona. The network was subsequently expanded to Molokai on July 21, 2007, and Lanai on October 6, 2007. This arrangement allowed go! to extend its market presence beyond the airports and aircraft directly associated with its principal inter-island operation. Go!Express was designed around the needs of short-distance inter-island travel. Its initial Mokulele operation used small Cessna Grand Caravan turboprops, configured as a single-class product. The service connected communities and airports that were not necessarily suited to larger regional aircraft. The brand therefore complemented go!'s broader Hawaii network by providing access to smaller destinations while retaining a common commercial identity. The relationship with Mokulele changed after Mokulele entered into an agreement with Republic Airways Holdings to operate 70-seat jet services in Hawaii. Mesa initially announced that the Go!Express agreement would end in April 2009, but the termination was brought forward. The Mokulele-operated codeshare ended on March 24, 2009. On the same day, go! began selling flights operated by Island Air under the Go!Express name. The Island Air arrangement differed from the original Mokulele structure. Island Air did not dedicate aircraft exclusively to Go!Express or repaint its aircraft in Go!Express colors. Instead, Go!Express-branded tickets were sold for existing Island Air flights and aircraft. Island Air operated Dash 8 turboprops in its own livery, with a single economy cabin and approximately 37 seats in a two-by-two layout. Seats were not assigned in advance and were generally allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. By September 2009, the Island Air version of Go!Express served a network of six inter-island routes involving Honolulu, Kahului, Kapalua, Kona, Lanai, Lihue, and Molokai. The route structure changed during the period: Island Air ended service to Hilo on August 17, 2009, and discontinued the Honolulu–Lihue route on August 30, 2009. The available record does not establish a separate later operating phase for the brand. After Mesa Air Group acquired Mokulele Airlines, go! resumed codesharing on Mokulele-operated flights, but the Go!Express branding was not reinstated. Go!Express is therefore best understood as a discontinued commercial service label rather than an independent airline.

Go!Express developed as a regional extension of go!, the Hawaii service associated with Mesa Air Group. The brand was created for flights operated by partner airlines rather than for a standalone carrier with its own operating certificate. This distinction shaped the service throughout its short existence: Go!Express was a commercial and marketing identity attached to partner-operated inter-island flights. In September 2006, Mesa announced an agreement with Mokulele Airlines. Mokulele was to operate Cessna Grand Caravan aircraft for Go!Express, serving smaller Hawaiian airports and connecting them with more established inter-island destinations. The arrangement began operating on April 17, 2007, when Go!Express launched flights from Kapalua to Honolulu, Kahului, and Kona. The service expanded to Molokai on July 21, 2007, followed by Lanai on October 6, 2007. The Mokulele operation used four aircraft in a single-class configuration. The Cessna Grand Caravan was a high-wing turboprop with a 37-seat layout, and its smaller capacity was suitable for short sectors and airports serving comparatively small local markets. Go!Express seating was not assigned in advance; passengers generally selected seats on a first-come, first-served basis. Two Mokulele aircraft were repainted in Go!Express colors, giving the initial arrangement a more visible branded presence than the later Island Air agreement. The operating relationship changed after Mokulele reached an agreement with Republic Airways Holdings to operate 70-seat jet aircraft in Hawaii. Mesa announced that it intended to terminate the Go!Express agreement with Mokulele in April 2009, but the transition occurred sooner. On March 24, 2009, the Mokulele codeshare ended. Go! replaced it with an arrangement allowing flights operated by Island Air to be sold under the Go!Express name. The Island Air arrangement was principally a codeshare and distribution relationship rather than a dedicated rebranding of the operator. Island Air continued to use its own aircraft and livery, and flights marketed as Go!Express were provided through the carrier's existing schedule and fleet. Island Air operated Dash 8 turboprops with roughly 37 seats in a two-by-two configuration and a single economy class. Except for the rearmost row, the layout offered window and aisle seats rather than middle seats. By September 2009, Island Air's Go!Express-marketed network included the Hawaiian airports at Honolulu, Kahului, Kapalua, Kona, Lanai, Lihue, and Molokai, representing six inter-island routes. The network was subsequently reduced during the same period: Hilo service ended on August 17, 2009, and the Honolulu–Lihue route ended on August 30, 2009. Mesa Air Group later acquired Mokulele Airlines, and go! resumed codesharing on flights operated by Mokulele. However, the Go!Express identity was not brought back. The available record consequently presents Go!Express as a discontinued regional service brand that existed first through Mokulele and then through Island Air, rather than as a separately incorporated or certificated airline.

• 2009

  Island Air replaces Mokulele as operating partner

  [1]Go!Expressen.wikipedia.org

  The Mokulele codeshare ended on March 24, and go! began selling existing Island Air flights as Go!Express.

• 2009

  Hilo service discontinued

  [1]Go!Expressen.wikipedia.org

  Island Air ended service to Hilo on August 17.

• 2009

  Honolulu–Lihue route discontinued

  [1]Go!Expressen.wikipedia.org

  Island Air discontinued the Honolulu–Lihue route on August 30.

• 2007

  Go!Express service launches

  [1]Go!Expressen.wikipedia.org

  Service began on April 17 from Kapalua to Honolulu, Kahului, and Kona.

• 2007

  Molokai service added

  [1]Go!Expressen.wikipedia.org

  Go!Express began serving Molokai on July 21.

• 2007

  Lanai service added

  [1]Go!Expressen.wikipedia.org

  Go!Express began serving Lanai on October 6.

• 2006

  Mesa announces Mokulele operating agreement

  [1]Go!Expressen.wikipedia.org

  Mesa announced an agreement for Mokulele Airlines to operate Cessna Grand Caravan aircraft under the planned Go!Express brand in Hawaii.

A regional inter-island airline service brand focused on connecting smaller Hawaiian airports through partner-operated short-haul flights.

• Regional passenger air service · 2007

  Mokulele-operated Go!Express

  The original Go!Express service was operated by Mokulele Airlines using Cessna Grand Caravan turboprops. It connected Kapalua with Honolulu, Kahului, and Kona, and later added service to Molokai and Lanai. The aircraft used a single-class configuration, and the brand's small-aircraft format was suited to short inter-island routes and smaller Hawaiian airports.

• Codeshare regional passenger air service · 2009

  Island Air-operated Go!Express

  Beginning March 24, 2009, Go!Express flights were supplied by Island Air through a codeshare-style commercial arrangement. Island Air used its existing Dash 8 fleet and retained its own aircraft colors rather than applying a dedicated Go!Express livery. The service offered a single economy cabin and operated on a changing network of Hawaiian inter-island routes.

• 2009

  Replace Mokulele operation with Island Air codeshareStrategy

  Background

  Mokulele's agreement with Republic Airways Holdings to operate 70-seat jets in Hawaii led Mesa to plan the end of its Go!Express arrangement with Mokulele.

  Action taken

  Mesa and go! ended the Mokulele-operated Go!Express codeshare on March 24, 2009, and began selling existing Island Air flights under the Go!Express name.

  Aftermath

  Island Air aircraft remained in Island Air colors because the arrangement used existing flights and aircraft rather than a dedicated Go!Express fleet.

  Source

• Do not restore the Go!Express brand after renewed Mokulele codesharingStrategy

  Background

  After Mesa Air Group acquired Mokulele Airlines, go! resumed codesharing on Mokulele-operated flights.

  Action taken

  The renewed codeshare used Mokulele operations without reintroducing the Go!Express branding.

  Aftermath

  Go!Express remained a discontinued service label rather than returning as an active regional brand.

  Source

1. 1Go!Expressen.wikipedia.org