The end of Aloha Airlines

Aloha Airlines will shut down all passenger flight operations today, ending the proud 61-year history of the airline that serves both the inter-island and transpacific needs of the Hawaiian Islands.

Aloha has announced that its air cargo and aviation services units will continue to operate in the short term as the US Bankruptcy Court seeks bids from potential buyers. A potential purchaser for the air cargo business appeared on 27 March, when Saltchuk Resources, Inc., announced it was interested in buying the division.

“This is an incredibly dark day for Hawaii,” said David A. Banmiller, Aloha’s president and chief executive. “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.”

Aloha has struggled to come to terms with increased competition on its main revenue routes, despite code-share agreements with United Airlines.

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