Hawaiian Air says one of the reasons why airfares between Honolulu and Pago Pago are nearly twice as high as fares between Honolulu and Los Angeles, is because the Pago Pago sector is international.
But the American Samoa Governor, Togiola Tulafono, says the internet fare for a Hawaiian Air flight from Honolulu to Sydney for a round trip ticket is 867 US dollars, while the lowest round trip airfare from Honolulu to Pago Pago is 1017 dollars.
The Governor pointed out that the distance between Honolulu and American Samoa is half that of Honolulu and Sydney, yet Hawaiian's airfares are much cheaper to Australia.
The governor has moved to terminate Hawaiian Air's service, after the airline refused demands to lower their airfares and discontinue fees and charges which the governor called discriminatory.
But the airline has filed with the US Department of Transportation to declare the governor's move, illegal.
