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Airline Report: Hawaiian Caught in Football Scuffle

Hawaiian Airlines finds itself in a bit of a bind this week, amid charges that it unfairly plays favorites. The accuser is the governor of American Samoa, and the supposedly favored? That would be the Oakland Raiders. It sounds like a strange rivalry, but both compete for service from Hawaiian's planes. Hawaiian's 5 1/2-hour flight is the only scheduled commercial link between the U.S. and American Samoa, and the governor is trying to replace them.

He alleges that the airline casually pushes its Samoan passengers aside whenever the Oakland Raiders beckon. Several flights between Honolulu and Pago Pago, American Samoa, have been rescheduled recently, and Governor Togiola Tulafono thinks the plane was yanked to meet the charter needs of the football team, making American Samoa the sacrificial lamb to the Raiders' holy endeavors. He complained of the inconvenience on his weekly radio program, lamenting the fact that travelers heading for the States already have no choice but to pay for Hawaiian's expensive tickets.

Hawaiian denies any intentional wrongdoing. Meanwhile, the governor is searching for a new carrier--possibly United--to service his market.

[Photo: 808Talk]

Related Stories:
· Hawaiian Airlines denies Raider charters affect Pago Pago service [SF Chron]