Hawaiian Airlines says Mesa ordered to pay $80 mln

NEW YORK, Oct 30 (Reuters) - A U.S. Judge has ordered Mesa Air Group (MESA.O: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) to pay Hawaiian Airlines HA.A damages of $80 million plus attorney fees, in a case over unfair competition, Hawaiian Airlines said on Tuesday.

According to Hawaiian, Mesa had misused confidential information to gain an unfair competitive advantage over Hawaiian.

The U.S. bankruptcy court for the District of Hawaii found that Mesa kept confidential information it was supposed to destroy or return to Hawaiian Airlines, the company said.

A spokesman for Mesa could not be immediately reached.

Mesa said last month that it had placed its chief financial officer on administrative leave while it investigated his conduct during the course of the Hawaiian Airlines litigation.

The $80 million was for damages Hawaiian suffered through October 2007, Hawaiian said. Hawaiian said it was studying what steps it could take to recover damages it may suffer in the future.

(Reporting by Emily Chasan)