Aloha Airlines to Shut Down Passenger Operations After March 31, 2008, Ending
a 61-Year Tradition of Service to Hawaii
Air Cargo and Contract Services to continue
HONOLULU, March 30 /PRNewswire/ -- Aloha Airlines announced today that it
will be shutting down its inter-island and transpacific passenger flight
operations. Aloha's last day of operations will be Monday, March 31, 2008.
On that day, Aloha will operate its schedule with the exception of flights
from Hawaii to the West Coast and flights from Orange County to Reno and
Sacramento, and Oakland to Las Vegas.
Code-share partner United Airlines and other airlines are prepared to
assist and accommodate Aloha's passengers who have been inconvenienced. For
more information on United's accommodation options, contact United at
1-800-UNITED1 or http://www.united.com.
Passengers who do not wish to be re-accommodated by another airline should
contact their travel agent or credit card company to request a refund.
Effective immediately, Aloha will stop selling tickets for travel beyond
March 31, 2008.
The shutdown of Aloha's passenger operations will affect about 1,900
employees.
Aloha also announced that its air cargo and aviation services units will
continue to operate as usual while the U.S. Bankruptcy Court seeks bids from
potential buyers. On March 27, 2008, Saltchuk Resources, Inc., announced its
intention to buy Aloha's air cargo business.
"This is an incredibly dark day for Hawaii," said David A. Banmiller,
Aloha's president and chief executive officer. "Despite the groundswell of
support from the community and our elected officials, we simply ran out of
time to find a qualified buyer or secure continued financing for our passenger
business. We had no choice but to take this action.
"We deeply regret the impact this will have on our dedicated employees who
have made Aloha one of the best operating airlines in the country.
"Aloha Airlines was founded in 1946 to give Hawaii's people a choice in
inter-island air transportation. Unfortunately, unfair competition has
succeeded in driving us out of business, bringing to an end a 61-year-old
company with a proud legacy of serving millions of travelers in the true
spirit of Aloha.
"We realize that this comes as a devastating disappointment to our
frequent flyers and our loyal business partners who have supported this
company for many, many years."
Stu Glauberman
Director - Corporate Communications
Phone: (808) 539-5947, (808) 722-7318
E-mail: sglauberman@AlohaAirlines.com
SOURCE Aloha Airlines
Stu Glauberman, Director - Corporate Communications of Aloha Airlines,
+1-808-539-5947, cell, +1-808-722-7318, sglauberman@AlohaAirlines.com
