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Hawaiian shuffles
top execs

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By Russ Lynch
Star-Bulletin

Hawaiian Airlines Inc. has promoted Paul J. Casey to vice chairman and handed the day-to-day operations of the company to Robert W. Zoller, naming him president and chief operating officer.

Casey, who retains his title of chief executive officer, has been president and CEO since joining Hawaiian in April 1997. Zoller, who joined Hawaiian in December 1999, had been executive vice president-operations and service.

The move will allow Casey to focus on long-term strategies and goals, said John W. Adams, board chairman.

"Hawaiian is at a pivotal point in its history," Adams said in a statement announcing the changes yesterday. It is replacing its interisland fleet with new Boeing 717 jets while it looks for other aircraft to replace the McDonnell Douglas DC-10s it uses on its mainland-Hawaii and Hawaii-South Pacific routes. It is also looking for new long-haul routes.

Zoller knows the 717. He oversaw the integration of the new aircraft into the fleet of AirTran, Boeing's first customer for the 717, and he has been supervising Hawaiian's planning to integrate Hawaiian's new planes into its operations.

Casey, who had a long career with Continental Airlines before serving as president of the Hawaii Visitors & Convention Bureau and then Hawaiian, will be in charge of strategic planning, human resources, marketing and public relations. He headed the fleet-renewal program, a $430 million investment in 13 new 717s to be delivered this year, with an option for another seven.

Zoller continues to oversee flight operations, maintenance and customer service and adds finance and legal functions to his responsibilities.