The ever-changing airline landscape in Hawaii began taking on a new look yesterday as Mesa Air Group began the process of adding up to 10 flights a day in the wake of the joint venture between its interisland carrier go! and rival Mokulele Airlines.

CAPTION: STAR-BULLETIN / 2006

Mesa Air CEO Jonathan Ornstein said reduced seating capacity should help go! become profitable.

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Still uncertain, though, is how many people will remain from the combined work force of more than 270 employees. Also in limbo are an additional 180 workers employed by Mesa's ground-handling agents, Swissport and Aloha Contract Services.

The agreement, announced Tuesday, made Mesa the majority owner with 75 percent of the joint venture while Mokulele's previous majority owner, Indianapolis-based Republic Airways, along with Mokulele shareholders, will own the remaining 25 percent of the newly named go! Mokulele.

Go! Vice President Paul Skellon said yesterday that determining the appropriate size of the combined labor force is "a top priority" and that he and Mokulele Chief Executive Officer Scott Durgin will determine that number "as soon as possible."

Mokulele has about 180 employees, with about 38 percent of those formerly from now-defunct Aloha Airlines. Go! has 93 employees, excluding the ground-handling agents with whom it contracts.