Aloha to Continue Cargo Service
Hawaiian Island airline, Aloha Airlines has announced that despite the cessation of its passenger services, the carrier will continue with cargo operations.
Filing for Chapter Eleven bankruptcy this week, Aloha Airlines has blamed increasing fuel prices for the airlines passenger services demise.
Aloha Airlines President and Chief Executive Officer, David Banmiller said in a statement posted on the Aloha Airlines website that the cessation of passenger services was a “dark day for Hawaii.” Banmiller also stating that “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.”
While the airline has confirmed that its cargo operations will continue and that shippers seeking shipping services or clarification on the present situation should call Aloha cargo locations at Hawaii airports, Seattle company, Saltchuk Resources has announced an intention to buy Aloha’s air cargo business.
The offer to acquire Aloha Airlines cargo operations came via a letter of intent after Aloha’s bankruptcy was filed, with Tim Engle, President of Saltchuk saying in a statement that “Saltchuk Resources’ goal is to retain as many of the Aloha Air Cargo employees as possible.” And that “We don’t expect the bankruptcy filing or the sale will impact operations or service in any way,”
Engle also expressed optimism for the future of Aloha’s cargo services saying that “We believe our knowledge of Hawaii, coupled with our extensive air cargo operations experience, positions us well to help take Aloha Air Cargo to the next level.”
Saltchuk Resources already has experience in the air cargo arena, owning Alaska’s Northern Air Cargo, the sizeable state’s largest all-cargo airline.
Source: Aloha Airlines and Saltchuk Resources