American Air still eyeing JAL

American Airlines said it remains in talks with Japan Airlines Corp. about a possible $1.1 billion investment.

Gerard Arpey, chief executive officer of AMR Corp.'s American, responded yesterday to a report in the Japanese business daily Nikkei that Japan Air and a government agency overseeing its turnaround would decline cash offers from his company and Delta Air Lines Inc., at least until after a restructuring. American has offered to invest in Japan Air to keep it from leaving its Oneworld alliance for SkyTeam, led by Delta. At stake is access to Japan Air's Asian route network and a potential partnership on trans-Pacific flights that would generate more revenue at lower cost.

JobQuest job fair set for tomorrow

The next JobQuest job fair is set for tomorrow from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Blaisdell Center.

More than 100 employers have signed up for the job fair, representing local businesses, mainland organizations, military branches and government agencies.

For the first time, Virtual Job Quest will follow the fair at 3 p.m. The virtual job fair simulates the real-life fair, including an exhibition hall similar to Blaisdell and an interactive booth for every participating employer. Job seekers can follow up with employers after the real-life event.

General admission is $3; students, military and seniors with ID can get in for $1. Job seekers can pre-register at www.virtualjobquest.com.

Delta hiking fees for checked bags

ATLANTA » Attention, travelers: That tug at your wallet is about to happen again, courtesy of the world's biggest airline. Delta Air Lines Inc. is raising its fees to check your first bag on a domestic flight by $8 and the second bag by $7. That will mean $23 for the first bag and $32 for the second.

It will continue to cost you even more if you don't pay the fees in advance on the airline's Web site. Delta is calling that add-on a surcharge—$2 for the first bag and $3 for the second. You will have to pay the surcharges if you check your bags at an airport ticket counter, kiosk or curbside.

The new fees are for travel beginning today on tickets purchased on or after last Tuesday. Tickets purchased before then, regardless of when the travel begins, are subject to the current fees—$15 for the first bag and $25 for the second. The domestic bag fee increases apply to travel in coach within the 50 states, U.S. Virgin Islands, Canada and Puerto Rico.

Island Air seeks student aviators

Island Air will debut its second season of its Student Explorer Program with orientation night on Jan. 20 for students between the ages of 14 and 20 who have an interest in aviation. The orientation will be at 6:30 p.m. at Bishop Museum's Atherton Halau.

Applications to the program only will be accepted at orientation, and only 15 students will be invited to experience the 10-week program.

More information about the program, including a downloadable application, is available at http://www.islandair.com/explorers.

HawTel Yellow Pages warns of fraud

Hawaiian Telcom Yellow Pages is warning small-business owners to be on alert for a company that is approaching Hawaiian Telcom Yellow Pages customers using a deceptively similar name, HawaiianTel YP.

That company has been contacting small businesses in Hawaii and following up with falsified invoices for continued service. Customers are being directed to a Web site that is not affiliated with Hawaiian Telcom or Hawaiian Telcom Yellow Pages.

Customers are urged to report suspicious calls to Hawaiian Telcom Yellow Pages' customer service department at 591-7500 or (866) 813-0745.

Alcoa Revenues still shrinking

PITTSBURGH » Alcoa Inc. reported yesterday a smaller net loss for the fourth quarter, though revenue shrank as higher metal prices were offset by ongoing weakness in aerospace, construction and gas turbines businesses.

Alcoa's quarterly performance marks the unofficial beginning of the earnings season for S&P 500 companies, and it can be a sign of things to come. The Pittsburgh company reported a net loss of $277 million, or 28 cents a share, compared with a loss of $1.19 billion, or $1.49 per share, a year ago. Revenue fell to $5.43 billion from $5.68 billion.

ON THE MOVE

Kobayashi, Kanetoku, Doi, Lum and Yasuda CPAs has announced the following new partners:

» Ralph Kanetoku as its assurance partner. He has 28 years of public accounting experience.
» Maria Lowder as the new tax partner. She has 34 years of public accounting experience.

» The Friends of Waikiki Aquarium has announced the election of officers for 2010: Chuck Kelley, chairperson; Marcus Boland, vice chairperson; Jennifer Isobe, treasurer; and Peter Thacker, secretary. New board members: Mike Neithammer and Kimo Greenwell.