Hawaii is expecting an increase in available air seats in November, December and January compared with the same period a year ago, according to a new report issued by the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism. Over the next three months, Hawaii will see an overall increase in air seats of 7.8 percent. The news for retailers and travelers in the U.S. is even rosier, with the increase projected at 9.5 percent. Airports west of the Rockies will be tallying the largest rate of seat growth according to the outlook, with an overall increase of 16.1 percent. Cities with greatest rate of growth are Oakland, Phoenix and San Diego; with Seattle, Portland and Las Vegas also seeing significant growth. By contrast, nonstop seats from airports east of the Rockies will dip by 17.8 percent compared with the same period a year ago, with significant decreases from Cincinnati, Atlanta, Houston, Chicago and Minneapolis.
