What do TWA and Aloha Airlines have in common? While both companies no longer provide transportation, their name can still be seen on aircraft today.
TWA was acquired by American Airlines in 2001. It had a long, storied tradition in aviation worldwide from the 1930s to the turn of the century. American rolled out its Heritage Plane paint job a few years ago and kept the TWA logo and color scheme on some aircraft. We just saw a TWA-branded plane as we landed in Los Angeles recently and did a double-take ourselves.
You can still see Aloha Airlines on planes today for a different reason.
Hawaii’s beloved Aloha Airlines, which began in 1946 and ended in 2008, continues to have its name return to the news. It’s been fifteen years since Aloha entered bankruptcy and suspended all flights in March 2008.
When Aloha stopped passenger flights, the company and creditors auctioned the perpetually profitable cargo operation. A series of disagreements ensued between lenders and the bidders, and the bankruptcy was converted from reorganization to liquidation. Ultimately, Seattle’s’ Saltchuk Resources, aided by US Senator Daniel Inouye, purchased the cargo division for just over $10M.
If Saltchuk isn’t familiar to you, it also owns the Hawaii interisland ocean transport monopoly, Young Brothers, among its other Hawaii ventures.
Now, fast-forward 15 years; Aloha Air Cargo wants the US DOT to remove limitations on the number of planes it can fly interisland. That comes as the Postal Service has asked the carrier to provide additional lift for mail to Maui and the Big Island.
US DOT mandated Aloha Air Cargo to be a wholly owned subsidiary of Saltchuk with no more than five aircraft. The company operates a series of Boeing 737 freighters and flies as Northern Air Cargo on flights between Hawaii and Los Angeles.
Aloha Air Cargo said, “The passage of nearly fifteen years and solid operational and commercial track record have rendered moot the need for this condition.”
That could mean more planes branded Aloha in the future. It’s a reminder of one of Hawaii’s most beloved carriers.
The same miserable customer service that put Aloha Air lines under will surely be the death nail for Aloha Air Cargo! Give yourself an extra 2 hours if you need to ship something with them out of HNL. Not sure how they do on the other islands, but likely not much better.
Speaking of YB and the interisland monopoly. Locals should pound their elected officials to repeal the Jones Act, Estimated to cost the average Hawaii resident $2,000 a year!
I remember flying Aloha a few times. One particularly rainy day we were flying between Oahu and Maui. There was no ramp to the plane. You had to walk across the tarmack to the plane. By the time we got in the plane we were soaked. The stewardess gave us each 1 trifold paper towel for us to dab our selves dry. Lol. As we flew we could look up to the center seam of the plane and watch the water drip on the carpet as we shivered our way to Maui. It was turbulent and we thought we were going to die. I swore I would walk before taking another Aloha flight. Thankfully they were gone before I came back to the islands.
I totally agree with all 3 responses below! Remember that Aloha (and others) were accused of price fixing, was Never in the interest of either the tourists or the locals. I’d like to see the final 2 years executive payroll and bonuses prior to that liquidation. I remember when Aloha was a United partner and you could book a fare from HNL to Kona to Hilo and be allowed one no penalty stopover to be on both ends of The Big Island. On your return if you could get a flight that stopped on Maui or Molokai you could do it again! And we did! Mainland flights used to allow one stopover as well (HNL via OGG or KOA).
Haven’t looked into this lately 🤔
We witnessed first hand 4 years ago when Hawaii Airlines monopoly was broken by Southwest Air, as prices literally dropped by at least half overnight. A huge win for the citizens of Hawaii.
Why Young Bros. continues to hold an iron fist of a monopoly over our state’s
inter island shipping is an ongoing issue searching for answers from of our governing bodies.
2 words: Jones Act. Matson’s container ships are built in foreign shipyards–can’t serve multiple US destinations without a foreign port call in between. Alaska gets screwed too. Reason 1-way Alaska cruises must originate or termi ate in Vancouver.
You got that right, Young Brothers Monopoly!!!
That should be challenged. Matson and others should be allowed to offload in all islands.
Young Brothers prices are crazy expensive now.
I loved Aloha Airlines. It was perfect to island hop. I sure miss the ole days of visiting islands. People actually traveeled there not only for the scenery, but the history of land, people. Now it is what can i eat and where can i take my kids to play while Im eating. Very few take the time to know really about the Hawaiian Islands.
Sandi, I could not agree with more!! 100% everything you said!