Aloha union lawyer says buyer will emerge
Pacific Business News (Honolulu) - by Chad Blair
An attorney representing Aloha Airlines employee unions said he is confident a buyer will be found for the bankrupt carrier's passenger operations.
Fruman Jacobson of the Chicago law firm Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal told PBN Wednesday: "There will be a buyer. We are engaged in a diligent search and hope to find a qualified purchaser to restart the passenger operations and restore jobs and services."
Jacobson said the purchase needs to happen quickly, likely within the next 30 to 60 days.
"With ATA [Airlines] going down, there is a very good opportunity to fill those trans-Pacific routes," said Jacobson. "There is a need to fill those seats and Aloha has a powerful footprint."
Indianapolis-based ATA closed its operations April 2, citing high fuel prices.
Hawaiian Airlines (owned by Hawaiian Holdings, Amex: HA), United Airlines and other carriers scheduled emergency charter flights this week and last to fly stranded Aloha and ATA passengers in Hawaii and on the Mainland. On Tuesday, Alaska Airlines said it would add a new Seattle-Maui route beginning July 17.
Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal is representing the unsecured creditors' committee comprising the Air Line Pilots Association, the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, and the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers.
About 2,000 employees lost their jobs following Aloha's shutdown March 31.
Jacobson said Aloha's pilots, flight attendants and mechanics support reviving the passenger service under the Aloha brand, and are willing to have the carrier's cargo service sold with or without the passenger service.
Unlike the passenger service, Aloha's cargo service is a profitable operation.
Pacific Business News (Honolulu) - by Chad Blair
An attorney representing Aloha Airlines employee unions said he is confident a buyer will be found for the bankrupt carrier's passenger operations.
Fruman Jacobson of the Chicago law firm Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal told PBN Wednesday: "There will be a buyer. We are engaged in a diligent search and hope to find a qualified purchaser to restart the passenger operations and restore jobs and services."
Jacobson said the purchase needs to happen quickly, likely within the next 30 to 60 days.
"With ATA [Airlines] going down, there is a very good opportunity to fill those trans-Pacific routes," said Jacobson. "There is a need to fill those seats and Aloha has a powerful footprint."
Indianapolis-based ATA closed its operations April 2, citing high fuel prices.
Hawaiian Airlines (owned by Hawaiian Holdings, Amex: HA), United Airlines and other carriers scheduled emergency charter flights this week and last to fly stranded Aloha and ATA passengers in Hawaii and on the Mainland. On Tuesday, Alaska Airlines said it would add a new Seattle-Maui route beginning July 17.
Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal is representing the unsecured creditors' committee comprising the Air Line Pilots Association, the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, and the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers.
About 2,000 employees lost their jobs following Aloha's shutdown March 31.
Jacobson said Aloha's pilots, flight attendants and mechanics support reviving the passenger service under the Aloha brand, and are willing to have the carrier's cargo service sold with or without the passenger service.
Unlike the passenger service, Aloha's cargo service is a profitable operation.
