Lanai Runway Expansion Hits A Nerve Over ‘Two-Tiered’ Travel 0 The upgrade would allow bigger private jets to fly to Lanai nonstop from the mainland.
It’s no secret that the tiny island of Lanai, with its twin luxury resorts, is a magnet for elite travelers, some of whom fly by private jet.
But some jets can’t fly nonstop between the 140-square-mile island and the mainland without diverting to another nearby airport — typically Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu — to switch to a smaller aircraft or fill up on fuel.
That’s because Lanai Airport’s existing 5,000-foot runway isn’t long enough for some heavier jets to land. Others can’t take off with sufficient fuel to reach the West Coast. These jets must take off with light tanks and divert to another Hawaii airport for more fuel.
