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7:23 PM HST Monday
Aloha Air settles with pilots
Aloha Airlines and its 338 pilots have reached agreement on a new 28-month contract. It takes effect Feb. 1 and runs through Apr. 30, 2007.
"I applaud our pilot workforce for their willingness to work with the company to improve our competitive positioning during these challenging times for our industry," said Aloha CEO David Banmiller. "Their action exemplifies the can-do spirit that continues to prevail throughout this company's 58-year history."
The privately-held carrier and the Air Line Pilots Association Council 80 jointly announced the agreement Monday but said they had agreed not to release details of the tentative contract agreement at this time.
"The Aloha pilots have the best interests of Aloha and the people of Hawaii at heart," said ALPA Council 80 Master Executive Chairman David Bird.
The agreement came just a few weeks in Aloha's Chapter 11 bankruptcy, in sharp contract to Hawaiian Airlines, which has been in receivership for a year and is still negotiating terms with its own pilots, also members of ALPA. Hawaiian's situation is complicated by the pilots having already agreed to concessions a year ago, promised at the time that no further concessions would be sought.
"We're motivated to do our part in helping promote growth and profitability for our members and our company," said Richard Bockhaus, lead negotiator for the union side in the Aloha negotiations.
Like Hawaiian, and indeed like all mainland carriers, Aloha has reeled from soaring jet fuel prices. Banmiller, who has been CEO for only a short time, has sought to cut costs by pulling out of Pacific international markets, and this week announced plans to stop flying to Vancouver and Burbank in favor of adding service to San Diego and Orange County.