Aloha Air Cargo

Infobox_Airline
airline=Aloha Air Cargo
logo=Alohacargologo.pnglogo_size=315
fleet_size=6
destinations=5
IATA=KH
ICAO=AAH
callsign=ALOHA
parent= Saltchuk Resources, Inc.
founded=July 26 1946 (as Trans-Pacific Airlines)cite book|last=Norwood|first=Tom|coauthors=Wegg, John|title=North American Airlines Handbook|publisher=Airways International|location=Sandpoint, ID|date=2002|edition=3rd|isbn=0-9653993-8-9|pages=p. 9|url=http://www.airwaysnews.com]
commenced= 2008
ceased=
headquarters=Honolulu, Hawaii
key_people=
hubs=Honolulu International Airport
focus_cities=
frequent_flyer=
lounge=
alliance=
website=http://www.alohaaircargo.com

Aloha Air Cargo is an American cargo airline and a former passenger airline headquartered in Honolulu, Hawaii, USA, operating from a hub at Honolulu International Airport. Formerly part of Aloha Airlines, it became an independent cargo operator following the closure of the passenger airline in 2008.

History

Aloha Airlines was formed in 1946 and expanded over the next few decades. It filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in 2004 an attempt to cut costs and remain competitive with other airlines serving Hawaii. Following approval of new labor contracts and securing additional investment from new investors, the airline emerged from bankruptcy protection on February 17 2006. The airline filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection again on March 20 2008. [cite news | url=http://www.bizjournals.com/pacific/stories/2008/03/17/daily42.html | title=Aloha Airlines files for second bankruptcy in 3 years, blames go! for losses | first=Chad | last=Blair | work=Pacific Business News | date=2008-03-20 | accessdate=2008-03-20] Ten days later, on March 30 2008, Aloha Airlines announced the suspension of all scheduled passenger flights, with the final day of operation to be March 31 2008. [cite news | last=McAvoy | first=Audrey | url=http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D8VO2HT80.htm | title=Aloha Airlines halting passenger service | work=BusinessWeek | date-2008-03-30 | accessdate=2008-04-25]

After the shutdown of passenger operations, Aloha and its creditors sought to auction off its profitable cargo and contract services division. Several companies expressed interest in purchasing Aloha's cargo division, including Seattle-based Saltchuk Resources, California-based Castle & Cooke Aviation, and Hawaii-based Kahala Capital (which included Richard Ing, a minority investor in the Aloha Air Group and member of Aloha's board of directors). [cite news | url=http://starbulletin.com/2008/04/02/news/story01.html | title=Turbulent aftermath | work=Honolulu Star-Bulletin | first=Dave | last=Segal | date=2008-04-02 | accessdate=2008-05-03] However, a disagreement between cargo division bidders and Aloha's primary lender, GMAC Commercial Finance, ended with the bidders dropping out of the auction.cite news | url=http://starbulletin.com/2008/04/29/news/story04.html | title=Bidders drop out and funding halts | work=Honolulu Star-Bulletin | first=Dave | last=Segal | date=2008-04-29 | accessdate=2008-05-03] Almost immediately afterwards, GMAC halted all funding to Aloha's cargo division, forcing all cargo operations to cease; at the same time, Aloha's board of directors decided to convert its Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization filing into a Chapter 7 bankruptcy liquidation.

Saltchuk Resources decided to renew its bid to purchase the cargo division at the urging of U.S. Senator Daniel Inouye, and a deal between Aloha and Saltchuk was struck and approved by the federal bankruptcy court, where Saltchuk would purchase the cargo division for $10.5 million. [cite news | url=http://starbulletin.com/2008/05/02/news/story01.html | title=Return flight | work=Honolulu Star-Bulletin | first=Dave | last=Segal | date=2008-05-02 | accessdate=2008-05-03] The sale was approved by federal Bankruptcy Judge Lloyd King on May 12 2008, with the sale expected to close two days later. [cite news | url=http://starbulletin.com/2008/05/13/news/story02.html | title=Court allows Seattle firm to buy Aloha’s cargo division | date=2008-05-13 | accessdate=2008-05-14 | first=Dave | last=Segal | work=Honolulu Star-Bulletin]

Prior to its bid for Aloha, Saltchuk Resources was already present in Hawaii through its subsidiaries Young Brothers/Hawaiian Tug & Barge, Hawaii Fuel Network, Maui Petroleum and Minit Stop Stores. The company also owns Northern Air Cargo, Alaska's largest cargo airline. A new subsidiary, Aeko Kula Inc., was set up by Saltchuk to operate Aloha Air Cargo.

On the May 15 2008 the airline received its FAA and Department of Transport authority to operate as an independent airline. [cite news | url=http://starbulletin.com/2008/05/15/business/story01.html | title=Aloha Air Cargo is 'official' | work=Honolulu Star-Bulletin | first=Dave | last=Segal | date=2008-05-15 | accessdate=2008-08-14]

Destinations

United States

Hawaii

*Hilo (Hilo International Airport)
*Honolulu (Honolulu International Airport) Hub
*Kahului (Kahului Airport)
*Kona (Kona International Airport)
*Lihue (Lihue Airport)

Fleet

As of April 2008, the Aloha Air Cargo fleet consisted of the following aircraft: [cite news | title=Aloha's cargo unit still in business | url=http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080401/NEWS01/804010363 | first=Andrew | last=Gomes | work=The Honolulu Advertiser | date=2008-04-01 | accessdate=2008-04-01]

References

*cite news| title=Aloha Airlines: Ready to Protect Their Beachfront in Paradise | last=Young | first=Branden | work= | publisher=Airliners Publications | pages=35-39 | date=July/August 2006
*cite book| last=Forman | first=Peter | title=Wings of Paradise: Hawaii's Incomparable Airlines | publisher=Barnstormer Books | year=2005 | location=Kailua, HI | isbn=978-0-9701594-4-1

External links

* [http://www.alohaaircargo.com/ Aloha Airlines Cargo]