Island Air sale awaits
final clearance
The head of the partnership that is buying Aloha Airlines affiliate Island Air said yesterday that the deal is still on even though the parties are more than a month past the sale's expected completion date.
"It's subject to government approval and is still going through the regulatory process," said Charlie Willis, head of Gavarnie Holding LLC.
Aloha and Gavarnie announced the pending transaction in December and set March 1 as their targeted completion date.
Willis said a fleet and route expansion of Island Air would begin shortly after the sale is approved. He declined to comment on a union grievance that Aloha's pilots have filed against the airline over the sale.
The grievance said the Air Line Pilots Association's Aloha unit was concerned about recent statements and press releases by officers of Gavarnie and Island Air about a planned expansion of Island Air service.
The pilots pointed out their contract specifies city pairs that Island Air is not allowed to service and says that all flying "by or for" Aloha must be performed by Aloha's union pilots.
Aloha Airlines spokesman Stu Glauberman declined to comment on the grievance, saying it would be inappropriate to discuss the details until the transaction is finalized.