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Aloha’s Las Vegas
service debuts amid
pilot picketing

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Star-Bulletin staff

Aloha Airlines began its twice-daily service to Las Vegas even as some of its pilots held picket signs outside Honolulu International Airport, protesting a contract dispute over the new flights.

The airline's inaugural flight left Honolulu yesterday afternoon with 90 people aboard a 124-seat Boeing 737-700. Another flight left from Maui.

While the airline launched its new service with a traditional Hawaiian blessing and appearances by an Elvis Presley impersonator and Las Vegas showgirl, pilots said they were flying the routes under protest.

The Air Line Pilots Association, which represents Aloha pilots, says that compensation issues related to the expanded service and use of the new-generation aircraft still must be negotiated.

The company contends compensation issues aren't up for re-negotiation until the pilots' current contract expires in 2002.

The union said it is filing a grievance and taking the dispute to an independent arbitrator.

Julie King, an Aloha spokeswoman, said the airline expects the matter to be resolved through the arbitration process.

The new flights stop in Oakland, Calif., before going to Las Vegas.