Hawaii SuperFerry sails less than one-third full
June 14, 2008 Hawaii Superferry 1 Comment
After all the bickering and fighting over the Hawaii SuperFerry, reports are that the SuperFerry is sailing only 1/3 full on average. This is likely due to all the negative press it has gotten due to environmentalists protesting the Oahu to Maui trips. Some statistics from SuperFerry representatives:
Company figures show nearly 22,000 passengers and a little more than 6,000 vehicles traveled on the ferry between Oahu and Maui in May. That averages out to about 250 people and 70 vehicles per voyage, well-below the ship’s capacity of 866 people and 282 vehicles. Hawaii Superferry CEO Tom Fargo is hopeful the number of passengers will increase to 30,000 in June.
If the SupperFerry doesn’t increase its numbers significantly, they will not be around this time next year. That is terrible news for travelers. Why? Because Hawaii is already down to two airlines (Aloha Airlines went bankrupt) and without the SuperFerry you will have little competition that usually translates into higher prices.
