Trans Executive Airlines
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Aviation |
| Founded | 1982 |
| Founder | Teimour Riahi |
| Headquarters | Honolulu , United States |
Area served | Hawaii |
Key people | Teimour Riahi (CEO) |
| Products | Cargo services, passenger air charter, sightseeing flights |
| Website | www |
Trans Executive Airlines of Hawaii is a U.S.-based carrier with its headquarters located at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu, Hawaii. The airline conducts cargo services under the brand name Transair and offers passenger air charter and sightseeing flights as Transair Global. Established in 1982 by entrepreneur Teimour Riahi, the company’s fleet as of 2019 comprises six Boeing 737-200 aircraft—five dedicated to cargo and one configured for VIP passengers—and four Short 360 aircraft.
The airline’s operational framework is segmented between two entities: Rhoades Aviation, Inc., which manages the all-cargo Boeing 737-200 fleet operating as Transair, and Trans Executive Airlines of Hawaii, Inc., responsible for the all-cargo Short 360-300 aircraft flying under Transair Express. This organizational setup supports their strong foothold in Hawaii’s inter-island cargo and charter markets.
On July 2, 2021, after an incident involving Flight 810 unrelated to maintenance, the FAA grounded Rhoades Aviation due to identified safety and maintenance shortcomings. This action suspended their sole active 737-200 jet but left turboprop operations unaffected. Later, on May 25, 2022, the FAA declared its intention to revoke Rhoades’ air operator certificate, citing multiple safety breaches, including 33 flights conducted with engines deemed unairworthy. The operator was granted until June 8 to file an appeal.
A pivotal update occurred on April 8, 2025, when Rhoades Aviation revealed intentions to restart inter-island cargo flights later that year after an Administrative Law Judge from the National Transportation Safety Board ruled in favor of the airline, overturning the FAA’s revocation attempt. CEO Teimour Riahi highlighted the company’s dedication to working closely with regulators and upholding rigorous safety protocols to revive Hawaii’s only locally owned Part 121 carrier, thereby fostering business expansion and serving community needs throughout the islands.
Destinations
- Hilo (Hilo International Airport)
- Honolulu (hub) (Daniel K. Inouye International Airport)
- Kahului (Kahului Airport)
- Kona (Kona International Airport)
- Lihue (Lihue Airport)
- Kamuela, Hawaii (Waimea-Kohala Airport)
- Molokai (Molokai Airport)
- Lanai (Lanai Airport)
Fleet
| Aircraft | In service |
Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Boeing 737-200C | 6 | One outfitted as VIP passenger |
| Short 360 | 4 | One painted with “Interisland Airways” branding |
Incidents
On July 2, 2021, a Boeing 737-200 cargo aircraft operating as Transair Flight 810 experienced engine failure shortly after departing from Honolulu's Daniel K. Inouye International Airport en route to Maui. Efforts to return were unsuccessful due to overheating of the second engine, necessitating a water landing approximately off Oahu’s coast. Both pilots were safely recovered by the United States Coast Guard. The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board investigation attributed the accident primarily to crew misidentification of the faulty engine and inadequate crew resource management during high-stress conditions; maintenance issues were ruled out as causal.
Following this event, the FAA withdrew Rhoades Aviation’s authority for maintenance inspections—the operator of the Boeing 737-200—based on findings from a probe initiated in 2020. However, this revocation was later overturned with prejudice by an NTSB Administrative Law Judge in November 2024.
On January 29, 1996, a Cessna 402B operated by Trans Executive Airlines of Hawaii crashed during takeoff at Waimea-Kohala Airport. The pilot lost his life in the accident while two cargo handlers sustained serious injuries. This flight was conducted under Part 135 regulations as a contract mail service.