Aloha Air gets new
chief at controls

Air Jamaica executive David A. Banmiller has been tapped to serve as president and chief executive of Aloha Airgroup Inc., the Honolulu-based parent company of Aloha Airlines, company officials said today.

Banmiller succeeds Glenn Zander, who recently stepped down to devote more time to his wife Gayle's three-year battle with cancer.

David A. Banmiller » New title: President and chief executive officer of Aloha Airgroup Inc. and subsidiary Aloha Airlines. » Age: 60 » Experience: 2003-present -- Executive vice president, chief operating officer, Air Jamaica. » Other experience: President, CEO, board chairman, Sun Country Airlines; president, Pan American World Airways; vice president, international division, American Airlines; president, chief operating officer, Air Cal. » Education: MBA, Loyola Marymount University; BA, Villanova University.

Zander, who doubled the carrier's revenues and expanded service to North America and the Pacific during his 10 years with the company, will remain on the company's board as vice chairman.

Banmiller, who will begin work at Aloha on Nov. 14, has more than 30 years of experience in air travel and has held senior airline industry positions in the United States, Europe, South America, Mexico and the Far East.

"I welcome the opportunity to join the Aloha team during this very challenging time in our industry," Banmiller said. "In my many years in this industry, I have seen the Aloha name and reputation held in such high regard and I am personally honored to now be a part of this fine organization."

Banmiller most recently served as Air Jamaica's executive vice president and chief operating officer.

At Air Jamaica, Banmiller channeled his energy into improving the carrier's reliability, on-time performance and profitability.

He helped Air Jamaica maintain its 5-Star Diamond award rating from the American Academy of Hospitality Science and its ranking by World Travel Awards as "Best Airline to the Caribbean."

He also has served as president and CEO for Sun Country Airlines, Pan American World Airways, Sun Jet and as vice president of American Airlines' international division.

Banmiller takes Aloha's reigns at a turbulent time in the airline industry when few carriers are making money.

Zander recently proclaimed privately held Aloha Airgroup to be in "OK" financial shape despite a net loss of $963,000 in the recently concluded second quarter. Revenues rose 10.1 percent in the quarter to $114.2 million from the same quarter last year.

"If you looked at it like a normal business, you'd say, 'Gosh, it could be better.' But if you look at it in terms of the airline industry, we're actually doing pretty well because the airline industry is in shambles," Zander said.

After an extensive search, Aloha Airlines was fortunate to have found an executive of Banmiller's caliber, Aloha Chairman Han H. Ching said.

"His diverse background having worked for both large and small airlines in all aspects of the business is invaluable as Aloha moves forward with its commitment to provide vital air services for the state of Hawaii," Ching said.

Aloha Airlines, founded in 1946, has grown to 3,700 employees. The company offers approximately 620 interisland flights per week and provides 140 trans-Pacific flights from Hawaii to the West Coast and the South Pacific.