Hawaiian Airlines canceled several flights to Kona and one from Los Angeles, affecting about 700 people
Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport in Keahole will reopen Tuesday morning after a safety issue related to cracks in the runway led to the cancellation of several flights the previous day, affecting thousands of passengers.
The state Department of Transportation (DOT) closed Kona International Airport at 4:20 p.m. Monday to evaluate cracks in the runway, Hawaiian media reported.
They announced that the airport would remain closed overnight as it was not possible to operate around a damaged section of the runway.
Meanwhile, several airlines had to delay or divert their planes due to the Kona closure.
The diversion included a Southwest Airlines flight from Las Vegas, an American Airlines flight from Los Angeles and a United Airlines flight from Denver. Nearly a dozen inter-island flights have been delayed.
Hawaiian Airlines on Monday canceled five inter-island flights to Kona and one flight from Los Angeles, affecting about 700 people, according to the airline.
The department said it was also working with contractors to mill and resurface a 10-by-10-foot area, and the work is expected to be completed before dawn Tuesday.
Passengers with flights scheduled to arrive or depart Kona on Tuesday have been advised to check with their airline before heading to the airport, the department said.
Additionally, DOT spokesman Russell Pang said, “A project to reconstruct the entire 11,000-foot runway was scheduled for this year, but cracks developed and runway pavement degradation accelerated due to recent rains.” .
