Cruise/Airline News

Blue Sea Cruises has launched the Spirit of Kona, a twin-hull vessel designed for viewing sea life. The 70-foot vessel carries 149 passengers. In addition to decktop viewing, the boat offers two large, glass-bottom viewing wells. The ship will be used on the company’s Humpback Whale Watching Adventures, Dolphin Ecoadventures and Sunset cruises, departing Kailua, Kona on the Big Island. Visit www.blueseacruisesinc.com .  

Island Air has cut back on a planned fleet expansion, citing the impact of fare wars and the competition for passengers triggered by Go’s entry into the interisland market. Go has offered fares as low as $19, which have been matched by Hawaiian and Aloha. Rather than expand, Island Air is replacing its one 78-passenger Bombadier Q400 with a 37-passenger Dash-8.

Jetsatar, Qantas’ economy airline, is starting service between Australia and Honolulu staring Dec. 27. In addition to three weekly flights from Sydney, Jetstar is offering two per week from Melbourne starting Dec. 29.

The Mesa Air Group, parent of Go airlines, has launched Go! Vacations and will be selling packages through its Web site [ www.iflygo.com]. The packages are being offered through an agreement with wholesaler Pleasant Holidays.

Aloha Airlines has added Korean Air and Air New Zealand as interline e-ticketing partners. Aloha now has such agreements with 13 airlines. Both carriers can issue boarding passes for interline connections to Aloha flights.