Take a Trip on One of Island Air’s Faster, Quieter and Smoother Planes

Island Air is getting three new Q400 planes between now and April of this year, with plans to eventually replace their remaining older planes.

By Enjy El-Kadi

Photo: Courtesy of Island Air

Planning a trip to the Neighbor Islands soon? You might get the chance to fly on one of Island Air's new Bombardier Q400 Aircrafts. The brand will be getting three new planes added to their fleet between now and April of this year, with plans to eventually transition its five older planes out of service.

“As we look to expand our regional route network and connect local residents and visitors across the Islands, the reliable, operationally flexible and cost-efficient Q400 turboprop is the perfect choice to take our airline to the next level,” said David Uchiyama, president and chief executive officer for Island Air.

So what’s so cool about these new planes? Let us count the ways:

They’re 30 percent faster. They’re quieter and smoother, thanks to new noise reduction and vibration suppression technology (they can’t guarantee no crying babies on the flight, though). They use 30 percent less fuel and produce 30 percent lower emissions, making them environmentally friendlier. They have a 2.5x smaller noise footprint than other planes, meaning they’re less disruptive when they fly overhead. Added bonus: They have larger windows for #flawless Instagram shots of the Pacific Ocean and the Islands