Aloha lays off 150 more
The shutdown of ATA bleeds revenue from the local carrier's leftover business
Aloha Airlines employees, reeling from the loss of 1,900 jobs in connection with Monday's shutdown of passenger operations, suffered another blow yesterday when the company terminated 150 workers from its aviation services division.
The latest job losses became necessary after ATA Airlines abruptly ceased all operations late Wednesday night. Aloha had depended on ATA for 20 percent of its revenue in aviation services.
Aloha attorney Paul Singerman told federal Bankruptcy Judge Lloyd King that the loss of the revenue will affect Aloha's financial operations.
Until Monday, Aloha was the 10th-largest employer in Hawaii, with a work force of 3,500. Now the company is down to 1,450 employees -- 1,050 in its aviation services division and 400 in the cargo unit.
Aviation services handles ground operations for other airlines, such as ticketing and assisting passengers, baggage handling, directing planes to gates and cleaning aircraft.
The affected aviation services employees union leader said Aloha needs to sell its two divisions as quickly as possible.
"It's important that we move on with the sale of the cargo and the (aviation) services operation," said Randy Kauhane, assistant general chairman of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, District Lodge 141. "We've got to get to the point where this thing is put to rest to make sure we get investors to buy it and we can keep those jobs we currently have."