About Me
Founded-1946 Trans Pacific Airlines (Aloha Airlines), Hubs-Honolulu International Airport, Frequent Flyer Program-Aloha Pass, Member Lounge-Ali'i Club , Fleet Size-28, Parent Company-Aloha Airgroup, INC., Headquarters-Honolulu Hawaii, CEO-David A. Banmiller, Codeshare Agreements-United Airlines, Island Air, Website- http://www.alohaairlines.comHISTORY-Founded as charter carrier Trans-Pacific Airlines by publisher Ruddy Tongg as a competitor to Hawaiian Airlines, commencing operations on Aloha Friday, July 26, 1946, with a single World War II-surplus Douglas C-47 (DC-3) on a flight from Honolulu to Maui and Hilo. It soon earned the nickname "The Aloha Airline".In 1958, Hung Wo Ching was elected president of the airline. In November of that year, the company changed its name again, becoming Aloha Airlines. Aloha retired its last DC-3 on January 3, 1961, becoming the second airline in the United States to operate an all-turbine fleet. In 1963, the airline took delivery of two Vickers Viscounts from Austrian Airlines and soon acquired a third. Soon, the airline made the move to pure jets, with its first BAC One-Eleven arriving in Honolulu on April 16, 1966. Then the airline went shopping and placed an order for two Boeing 737-200s in December. Named "Funbirds", the Boeing jets entered service on March 2, 1969. In October 1971, the airline sold its remaining Viscounts and became an all-jet airline.In 1983, Aloha introduced its AlohaPass frequent flyer program. On May 28, 1984 - January 12, 1985, the airline leased a McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30 and inaugurated service with the aircraft between Honolulu, Guam, and Taipei under the name Aloha Pacific. In October of that year, Aloha acquired Quick-Change 737 aircraft that could be quickly converted from a passenger configuration to all-cargo freighter for nighttime cargo flights. In February 1986, Aloha began weekly flights between Honolulu and Kiritimati (Christmas Island), becoming the first airline to operate ETOPS 737s.In late 1986, Ching and vice-chairman Sheridan Ing announced plans to take the company private, and it remained in the hands of the Ing and Ching families until its emergence from bankruptcy in 2006, when additional investors including The Yucaipa Cos., Aloha Aviation Investment Group, and Aloha Hawaii Investors LLC took stakes in the airline. In 1987, the airline acquired Princeville Airways, renaming Aloha IslandAir, which became known as Island Air in 1995. In 2003, Island Air was sold to Gavarnie Holding and became an independent airline.On February 14, 2000, the airline began mainland service, flying newly delivered Boeing 737-700s from Honolulu, Kahului, and Kona, Hawaii to Oakland. The carrier soon started regularly scheduled flights to and from Orange County, San Diego, Sacramento, Reno, and Las Vegas. For a short time Aloha also offered flights from Honolulu to Vancouver.Aloha Airline's longest inter-island route was 216 miles, while the shortest route was a mere 62 miles. Aloha also marketed some inter-island routes served by partner Island Air, and passengers earned miles in either its own frequent flyer program, AlohaPass, or in United Airlines' Mileage Plus program.ALOHA AIRLINES FLEET:Aloha Airlines' fleet was made up of 28 aircraft. Six Boeing 737-200C aircraft , for inter island cargo. Thirteen Boeing 737-200 aircraft , that seats up to 127 passengers for inter island passenger service. Eight 737-700 aircraft , that seats up to 124 passengers for main land passenger service. One 737-800 aircraft , that seats up to 162 passengers for mainland passenger service (primarily Kahului-Sacramento).After over 60 years of service to Hawaii, Aloha Airlines stopped passenger services on March 31, 2008. It was a sad day as Hawaii lost “the People’s Airline†and affordable, efficient alternative for air travel. The employees of Aloha want to express their sincere appreciation for the honor of serving such wonderful and loyal customers.
