Aloha Employees Urge Lawmakers’ For Support
HONOLULU — More than 1,000 Aloha Airlines employees and their families took their concerns to the state Capitol on Friday as their company waits in bankruptcy for buyers.
They sought support from motorists outside the Capitol as well as lawmakers inside. While their signs and outfits were colorful, they were concerned about what could be grey skies and turbulent times ahead for Aloha Airlines, which is bankrupt and for sale.
Illinois Isaacs has been an accounting clerk in the finance department at Aloha for 18 years. She hopes for something to pull the company out of trouble.
“It’s most uncomfortable, but the belief within one’s self, you just have to put the positive energy forward, so that when you believe, things impossible will come true,” Isaacs said.
The rally comes just a day after the first company went public with an offer to buy Aloha’s lucrative cargo business. The owner of inter island shipping company Young Brothers, Saltchuk Resources of Seattle, put in an initial offer of $13 million for Aloha’s cargo division, which reports annual profits of at least $6 million.
Pilot Mike Uslan brought his two children along for support. He said he does not want to see portions of his employer sold off.
“We see Aloha Airlines as being much more valuable as a whole, not split up and broken apart and fragmented into pieces,” Uslan said.
Other entities, including several airlines, are interested in buying the entire airline, sources said.
Senate Ways and Means Chairwoman Sen. Roz Baker told the crowd that the Senate will hear a proposal Monday that will exempt Aloha and Hawaiian airlines from paying the state’s 4 percent excise tax on fuel.
“We know that we’ve always been able to count on aloha, so we want to make sure that you all to know that you can count on us,” Baker said.
Sources told KITV United Airlines came close to buying Aloha Airlines two weeks ago, before Aloha filed for bankruptcy. However, United pulled out because of high fuel costs Aloha faces, according to sources.
Previous Stories:
- March 27, 2008: Company Offers To Buy Aloha’s Cargo Division
- March 24, 2008: Aloha Airlines Looking For Buyer
- March 21, 2008: Aloha Air Files For Bankruptcy Again