Letters to the Business Editor
Ornstein has put Mesa at risk for his own ego
Jonathan Ornstein is stupid for attacking and then losing to an Aloha pilot.
Ornstein has definitely pushed the limits of right and wrong. The pilot is simply defending what he sees as an injustice and should be commended for his success.
Jonathan Ornstein should be fired for risking Mesa's millions on his own personal ego!
Hasn't Mr. Ornstein any moral or ethical boundaries?
I hope it is obvious to everyone that when it comes down to real competition, vying for passenger loyalty by providing a better product or service, Mesa and go! can't get it done. What Mesa is doing to Hawaii's airlines isn't about "competition." It is about INTIMIDATION, EGO, REVENGE, VENDETTA and CORPORATE TERRORISM in the Mesa mainland style.
I just visited www.dontflygo.com and I don't see what the problem is. At the top of the Web page it says "Thank you for not flying on go! Airlines."
I would like to reply back to the HEROES, "You're welcome," and I will continue to support my local airlines.
Good Job guys! Your employers should be very proud of you.
Hugh Jorgan
Kailua Kona
Editor's note: The dontflygo.com Web site was toned down after Mesa filed a lawsuit against Aloha pilot Mike Uslan.The suit in Arizona was dismissed last month for lack of jurisdiction. Mesa, which operates go!, has said it intends to refile in Honolulu.
Neither H.E.R.O. nor Uslan are anti-Semitic
Your
June 23 article about the court battle between go!'s parent company and Aloha co-pilot Mike Uslan requires clarification. Although Uslan's group, named H.E.R.O., sent Mesa's CEO a signed T-shirt that was in poor taste, neither Uslan nor H.E.R.O. are anti-Semitic.
How do I know?
Because Michael Uslan and other important members of that group are Jewish themselves.
The pricing behavior of go! during the past year, coupled with e-mail statements made by Mesa officials last year, strongly indicate that Mesa intends to put Aloha Airlines out of business as a necessary step for go!'s success. Since Aloha has significantly lower costs than go!, such a victory would have a profound long-term effect upon Hawaii air travelers.
Peter Forman
Airline historian
Kailua
Editor's note: None of the stories regarding the T-shirt ever accused Aloha Airlines pilot Mike Uslan or the H.E.R.O. group itself of being anti-Semitic.
Rather, the stories said that H.E.R.O., of which Uslan was a member, sent a T-shirt to Mesa CEO Jonathan Ornstein that contained an anti-Semitic slur and profane remarks.
I'm proud of my son for defending Aloha
I read your (lawsuit)
story regarding Mesa vs. Uslan with interest. Mike's knowledge of Mesa and how that company is run is from firsthand experience. If Mesa feels that Mike's allegations are untrue, than let them litigate those matters in court in Hawaii.
You cannot be so jaded with the initial fare war not to see Mesa's approach to providing service in Hawaii. They have already eliminated most of the cheap fares. We all know the marketplace in Hawaii will not support three interisland jet carriers. Mesa is gambling that Aloha or Hawaiian will fold their tents and disappear. Then the fares will really go up.
I operated an all-freight interisland airline in Hawaii in the late 1980s and early '90s. Aloha was no friend as they kept the freight rates artificially low to force their competitors to fly at a minimal profit. I am still thankful that Aloha hired my son and am very proud of his defense of his employer. These are different people trying to provide all-jet services to the local population.
Jonathan Ornstein is a corporate raider of the old style. He should be sent back to Phoenix to explain to his stockholders why he is throwing their money away fighting a local pilot who just wants to preserve his job and those of his fellow employees.
One last point. Mike is half Jewish; I am 100 percent Jewish and we are both very proud of our heritage. Can you imagine any person of Jewish extraction participating in the creation of the T-shirt sent to Ornstein, excoriating his heritage?
Steve Uslan
Former president of Hutchair Inc.
Odessa, Texas
I'm proud of my father who understands aloha
Thanks for making contact with my dad. I hope you print his letter. He still has a lot of old friends in Hawaii also. He gave many current captains at Aloha and Hawaiian their first flying jobs back in the '80s.
He was a respected boss. Just like Dr. Ching. His employees loved him and he loved them back.
When I came home to Hawaii five years ago, my older brothers and sisters at both local airlines all made sure I knew this about my dad. I am glad they did because I did not know he was so respected by them. We are ohana. We are strong.
Hawaii is about ohana and giving and receiving aloha. Aloha can only been given or accepted. It can't be taken by force, bought or stolen.
As my dad says he is proud of me, I am also proud of him. He understood aloha and left Hawaii with a good name.
Mike Uslan
Aloha Airlines pilot
Aiea
We could use more competition in Hawaii
Competition should be welcomed to Hawaii in the airline industry and other major industries as well.
Shortly before go! airlines flew onto the islands, our local airlines were already aggressive by more than doubling their fares. And, they forced Mahalo Airlines out of business while continuing their monopolistic edge.
Their high fares motivated us to welcome go!'s competitive spirit with open arms.
We could also use more competition from around the world in our local shipping and fuel monopolies. A reduction in prices could decrease the costs of everything that we buy. It's way long overdue!
Because these islands are isolated by thousands of miles in all directions, could federal legislation be passed for lower tariffs on cheaper products and shipping services sent to us directly from foreign countries? Then our cost of living could be on a more equal scale with the mainland.
Isn't it worth considering for our valued senators to propose in Congress?
If we continue to enjoy paying high prices all across the board, then that is what we will continue to get. But, if we welcome the competitive edge and innovative ideas onto our doorsteps, then a better quality of life will result for everyone.
John Burns
Aiea