IS THIS THE END FOR THE SUPERFERRY?
The Hawai`i Superferry is in an "emergency situation" with so few passengers that its ability to continue running between O`ahu and Maui is imperiled, according to a letter written last month by attorneys for the Superferry.
The Superferry vessel Alakai, which can seat 866 passengers, is averaging only 150 passengers per day, far below its planned ridership of 410, according to the Dec. 21 letter from Superferry attorneys Goodsill Anderson Quinn & Stifel.
The letter was sent to the state Public Utilities Commission requesting an extension of the Superferry's $39 one-way promotional fares through June 5.
Attorney Audrey Ng wrote that Hawai`i Superferry "must increase its business immediately" to address weak bookings, interisland airline competition and continuing litigation and protests; to pay for fixed expenses as well as to compensate for repeated delays; and to start a second Maui trip.
"Even with the current promotional fares through March 12, 2008, HSF is experiencing bookings at numbers much lower than expected," wrote Ng.
"It is critical for the company to counter the negative public perception or misgivings about the ferry service by getting people on-board to try the product."
