Island Air launches new neighbor isle routes

Island Air today launched new routes linking Maui and the Big Island via Lanai and Molokai. It also offered a free return ticket for flights today through Dec. 15 for anyone paying for a one-way Maui-Big Island ticket on either Island Air or its big sister, Aloha Airlines.

The new service provides three flights a day from Kahului to Kona, with two of them stopping at Lanai and one calling at Molokai, plus two flights a day from Kahului to Hilo via Molokai. In the other direction, there are two daily Hilo-Kahului flights via Lanai and two via Molokai. Island Air also has begun one flight a day between from Kona to the Kapalua-West Maui Airport. In its service of 54 flights a day, Island Air also has links in both directions between Honolulu and Kapalua, Honolulu and Lanai and Honolulu and Molokai.

Swissair seeks bankruptcy protection

Zurich, Switzerland >> Swissair Group said it will transfer Europe's seventh-largest airline operation to its Crossair AG subsidiary and sell a controlling stake in Crossair to Credit Suisse Group and UBS AG. The group will seek bankruptcy protection for its other businesses.

Swissair said it will raise 1 billion Swiss francs ($618 million) from the sale of Crossair and use the proceeds as well as a loan from the banks to avoid bankruptcy. Crossair will take over two thirds of Swissair's flights, with the rest shut down. The regional airline has a lower cost base than Swissair. Without the rescue package, Swissair would have gone out of business, according to Swissair Chief Executive Mario Corti.

Swissair, which has as much as 17 billion francs in debt, will slash 2,560 jobs and reduce its fleet by 24 planes, UBS said.

Federal-Mogul filing for Chapter 11

DETROIT >> Auto parts maker Federal-Mogul Corp. said it is seeking federal bankruptcy protection to help it resolve asbestos claims stemming from its acquisition of a British company three years ago.

During the Chapter 11 restructuring proceedings, the company will continue its business as usual, Federal-Mogul chairman and chief executive Frank Macher said in a statement. It is seeking bankruptcy protection in the United Kingdom as well as the United States. The company, one of the world's largest auto parts makers, didn't expect any job losses or facility closures. Federal-Mogul makes engine sealing products, brakes and chas- sis components, and wiper and lighting products. It has about 50,000 workers and 150 manufacturing plants worldwide.

In other news ...

WASHINGTON >> The Federal Aviation Administration is again allowing passengers to check their bags at curbside in some cases, albeit with tighter security than before the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, officials said yesterday. Airports including Washington Dulles, Houston's Bush Intercontinental and O'Hare in Chicago are allowing passengers of certain airlines to check their baggage at the curbs under strict security procedures. Curbside check-in was banned when airports reopened following the attacks.

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[TAKING NOTICE]

NEW JOBS

>> Marine ecologist and researcher Dwayne Meadows has joined the Pacific Whale Foundation as director of research and marine sciences. He has taught at the Institute of Marine Biology at the University of Oregon and Weber State University, where he is a research associate.

>> Susanne M. Lunsford and Eva DelVillar have been named to positions at Hawaii Escrow and Title. Lunsford was named state escrow manager. She will be responsible for the expansion of HET's Resort and Commercial Division. DelVillar was named state manager of public relations at the company.

>> Oshima Chun Fong and Chung LLP has hired Marie L. Misawa. She was previously a judicial intern at the Hawaii Intermediate Court of Appeals under Judge Simeon R. Acoba Jr.

ON THE BOARD

>> Admiral R.J. "Zap" Zlatoper has been named a board director by Science and Technology International. He will assist the company with its goal of creating technology to aid in national defense. Zlatoper, former commander in chief of the U.S. Pacific Fleet and assistant to the secretary of defense, also is a trustee at the Campbell Estate.