Go! airlines is "firmly committed" to the Hawaii interisland market, the company's top official said one day after disclosing in a regulatory filing that the airline could be forced into bankruptcy.

"I wish to reassure the people of Hawai'i that go! is here to stay," said Jonathan Ornstein, chairman and chief executive officer of Mesa Air Group, the parent company of go!.

"While Mesa, like the rest of the airline industry, is confronting challenges caused by high fuel prices and the difficult operating environment, we fully intend to maintain go!'s interisland operations," Ornstein said in a written statement. "We remain firmly committed long term to being the premier low-fare airline in Hawai'i," Ornstein added.

In a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission yesterday, Mesa said that if it can't stop Delta Air Lines from canceling a service contract, Mesa may have to seek court protection.