View source for Aloha Airlines

{{Short description|Hawaiian passenger airline (1946–2008)}}
{{About|the defunct passenger airline|the surviving cargo airline|Aloha Air Cargo}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2012}}
{{Infobox airline
| airline         = Aloha Airlines
| image           = Aloha Airlines Logo.svg
| image_size      = 250
| alt             = 
| IATA            = AQ
| ICAO            = AAH
| callsign        = ALOHA
| founded         = {{start date|1946|07|26}}<br />{{small|(as ''Trans-Pacific Airlines'')}}<ref name=path/>
| commenced       = {{start date|1946|07|26}}<ref name=path/>
| ceased          = {{end date|2008|03|31}}<br />(passenger division closed, cargo division later became [[Aloha Air Cargo]])
| aoc             = 
| bases           = 
| hubs            = [[Daniel K. Inouye International Airport]]
| focus_cities    = [[Kahului Airport]]
| frequent_flyer  = AlohaPass
| alliance        = {{ubl|class=nowrap
  | [[Island Air (Hawaii)|Island Air]]
  | [[United Airlines]]}}
| subsidiaries    = {{ubl|class=nowrap
  | [[Aloha Air Cargo]]
  | Aloha Pacific Air
  | Aloha Contract Services
  | [[Island Air (Hawaii)|Island Air]]}}
| fleet_size      = 22
| destinations    = 20
| parent          = Aloha Air Group
| num_employees   = 
| headquarters    = [[Honolulu]], [[Hawaii]]
| founders        = {{ubl|class=nowrap
  | [[Ruddy F. Tongg Sr.]]
  | Richard C Tongg }}
| key_people      = {{nowrap| David Banmiller ([[President (corporate title)|President]] & [[Chief executive officer|CEO]])}}
| website         = [https://web.archive.org/web/*/http://www.alohaairlines.com alohaairlines.com]
}}

'''Aloha Airlines''' was a United States airline that operated passenger flights from 1946 until 2008.<ref name=path>{{Cite news|url=http://archives.starbulletin.com/2002/09/29/special/story19.html|title=Aloha Airlines starts on right flight path|first=Rosemarie|last=Bernardo|work=[[Honolulu Star-Bulletin]]|date=September 29, 2002}}</ref> It was headquartered in [[Honolulu, Hawaii]],<ref>{{cite news|url=http://archives.starbulletin.com/2007/05/04/news/story01.html|title=United takes minority stake in Aloha|first=Nina|last=Wu|work=[[Honolulu Star-Bulletin]]|date=May 4, 2007}}</ref> operating from its [[airline hub|hub]] at Honolulu International Airport (now [[Daniel K. Inouye International Airport]]).

==History==
===Propeller era===
The airline was founded as charter carrier '''Trans-Pacific Airlines''' by publisher [[Ruddy F. Tongg Sr.]] as a competitor to [[Hawaiian Airlines]], commencing operations on July 26, 1946, with a war-surplus [[C-47 Skytrain|Douglas C-47]] ([[Douglas DC-3|DC-3]]) on a flight from Honolulu to [[Maui]] and [[Hilo]].<ref name=prejudice>{{Cite news|title=Post-war prejudice gave rise to Aloha 'The People's Airline'|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Travel/story?id=4557820&page=1|work=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]]|last=Gordon|first=Mike|date=April 8, 2008}}</ref><ref name=appeal>{{Cite news|last=Sigall|first=Bob|title=Trans-Pacific Airlines became Aloha to appeal to tourists|url=https://www.staradvertiser.com/2011/07/22/hawaii-news/rearview-mirror/trans-pacific-airlines-became-aloha-to-appeal-to-tourists/|website=[[Honolulu Star-Advertiser]]|date=July 22, 2011}}</ref><ref name=business>{{Cite news|last=Kelly|first=Jim  |title=Aloha Airlines goes out of business|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/eastbay/stories/2008/03/31/daily1.html|work=[[American City Business Journals]]|date=March 31, 2008}}</ref> Tongg and partners founded the airline after being bumped from flights on the only inter-island carrier, Hawaiian Airlines.<ref name=prejudice/> The company employed local Island residents and its first slogan was "The People's Airline.<ref name=prejudice/> It soon earned the nickname "The Aloha Airline".<ref name=business/> Approval to operate as a scheduled airline came when President [[Harry S. Truman]] signed the certificate on February 21, 1949, with the first scheduled flight on June 6, 1949, following ceremonies held the previous day.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Melendy|first=Brett|title=The Competition for Trans-Pacific Air Routes to Hawai'i, 1945-1959|url=https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/5014891.pdf}}</ref>

In 1952, the airline reported its first annual profit, approximately $36,000.<ref name=50th>{{Cite news|last=Gomes|first=Andrew|title=Aloha Airlines celebrates 50th|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/pacific/stories/1996/07/29/story1.html|work=[[American City Business Journals]]|date=July 28, 1996}}</ref> In 1950, the airline adopted the name '''TPA-The Aloha Airline'''. To compete, Hawaiian Airlines began using the [[Convair 340]].<ref name=wars>{{Cite web|title=Sky wars: The rise and fall of Aloha Airlines|  url=http://archives.starbulletin.com/2008/04/06/special/story02.html|last=Burlingame|first=Burl|work=[[Honolulu Star-Bulletin]]|date=April 6, 2008}}</ref> In 1958, real estate developer Hung Wo Ching became CEO of the airline and changed the name to '''Aloha Airlines'''.<ref name=appeal/><ref name=wars/> In 1959, Aloha began using [[Fairchild F-27]] [[turboprop]]s.<ref name=path/> Also in 1959, the company became a [[public company]] via an [[initial public offering]].<ref name=50th/>

===Jet engine era===
[[File:BAC 1-11 215AU N11183 Aloha LBG 03.06.67 edited-2.jpg|thumb|Aloha [[BAC 1-11]] in 1967]]
[[File:Aloha Airlines Boeing 737-200 Silagi-1.jpg|thumb|Aloha Boeing 737-200 at Honolulu in May 1981]]
[[File:Aloha Pacific McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30 Groves.jpg|thumb|''Aloha Pacific'' DC-10-30 at Taipei Airport in July 1984]]
[[File:Boeing737-N742AL.jpg|thumb|right|A former Aloha Boeing 737-700WL in storage in [[Southend Airport]], England, after the airline's 2008 demise]]

Aloha retired its last DC-3 on January 3, 1961, becoming the second airline in the United States to operate an all-turbine fleet. In 1963, the airline took delivery of two [[Vickers Viscount]]s from [[Austrian Airlines]] and soon acquired a third from [[Northeast Airlines]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=27 August 2006|title=Aloha Airlines pilots comment on pension issue|url=http://archives.starbulletin.com/2006/08/27/business/story02.html|access-date=2020-09-22|website=Star Bulletin}}</ref> The October 1, 1964, cover of the airline's system timetable proclaimed "''Hawaii's Only All Jet Power'' ''Service'' ''Between The Islands''" as Aloha was operating all of its inter-island flights at this time with the Fairchild F-27 and Vickers Viscount turboprops.<ref>timetableimages.com, Oct. 1, 1964 Aloha Airlines system timetable</ref> Soon, the airline made the move to pure jets, with its first new [[British Aircraft Corporation]] [[BAC One-Eleven]] twin jet arriving in Honolulu on April 16, 1966. The last F-27 was retired from service in June 1967. As [[Hawaiian Airlines]] took delivery of larger [[McDonnell Douglas DC-9|Douglas DC-9-30]] jets, Aloha realized its smaller BAC One-Eleven series 200 aircraft, which also suffered from performance penalties at [[Kona International Airport]] (which had a shorter runway at the time), put it at a disadvantage. Aloha placed an order for two [[Boeing 737-200]] jetliners in 1968. Named "Funbirds," the Boeing jets entered service in March 1969. The massive capacity increase hurt both airlines, and in 1970, the first of three unsuccessful merger attempts between the two rivals (the others coming in 1988 and 2001) was made. In October 1971, the airline sold its remaining Viscount 745 turboprop aircraft and became an all-jet airline.{{Citation needed|date=May 2024}}

In 1983, Aloha introduced its AlohaPass frequent flyer program.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xXtkAQAAQBAJ&pg=PA93|title=Loyalty Management in the Airline Industry|first=Ben|last=Beiske|date=May 29, 2002|publisher=Diplom.de |isbn=9783832454647}}</ref> In 1984, the airline leased a [[McDonnell Douglas DC-10]]-30, and on May 28, inaugurated service with the aircraft between Honolulu, [[Guam]], and [[Taipei]] under the name '''Aloha Pacific'''. The operation, however, was unable to compete with [[Continental Airlines]], and was discontinued on January 12, 1985. In October 1985, Aloha acquired Quick-Change 737 aircraft that could be quickly converted from a passenger configuration to all-cargo freighter for nighttime cargo flights. In February 1986, Aloha began weekly flights between Honolulu and [[Kiritimati]] (Christmas Island), becoming the first airline to operate [[ETOPS]] approved Boeing 737-200s.

In late 1986, Ching and vice-chairman Sheridan Ing announced plans to take the company private after surviving hostile takeover bids,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Lynch |first1=Russ |title=Entrepreneur soared with Aloha |url=https://archives.starbulletin.com/1999/09/24/news/story6.html |access-date=30 March 2023 |work=Honolulu Star-Bulletin |date=24 September 1999}}</ref> and it remained in the hands of the Ing and Ching families until its emergence from bankruptcy in 2006, when additional investors including [[Yucaipa Companies]], Aloha Aviation Investment Group, and Aloha Hawaii Investors LLC took stakes in the airline. In 1987, the airline acquired Princeville Airways, renaming Aloha IslandAir, which became known as [[Island Air (Hawaii)|Island Air]] in 1995. In 2003, Island Air was sold to Gavarnie Holding and became an independent airline.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/pacific/stories/2003/12/01/daily83.html|title=Aloha Airlines sells Island Air; new owners promise expansion| first=Prabha|last=Natarajan|work=[[American City Business Journals]]|date=December 5, 2003}}</ref>

On February 14, 2000, the airline began mainland service, flying newly delivered [[ETOPS]] certified [[Boeing 737-700]] jetliners from [[Honolulu]], [[Kahului]], and [[Kona, Hawaii]], to [[Oakland, California|Oakland]]. The carrier soon started regularly scheduled flights to and from [[Orange County, California|Orange County]], [[San Diego]], [[Sacramento]], [[Reno]], and [[Las Vegas, Nevada|Las Vegas]]. Aloha also offered flights from [[Honolulu]] to [[Vancouver]]. In addition, the airline served the Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport (BUR, now known as [[Bob Hope Airport]]) in the Los Angeles area with nonstop [[Boeing 737-700]] service to and from Honolulu.

Aloha Airline's longest inter-island route was {{Convert|216|mi|km}}, while the shortest route was a mere {{Convert|62|mi|km}}. The average travel distance per inter-island flight was {{Convert|133|mi|km}}.<ref>{{Cite web| url=https://airlinefiles.com/compass/81-national-regional-airlines/581-aloha-airlines-2| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210418170923/https://airlinefiles.com/compass/81-national-regional-airlines/581-aloha-airlines-2| url-status=usurped| archive-date=April 18, 2021|title=Aloha Airlines Files}}</ref> From late-1989 through mid-2006, Aloha marketed some inter-island routes served by partner [[Island Air (Hawaii)|Island Air]], and passengers earned miles in either its own [[frequent flyer program]], AlohaPass, or in [[United Airlines]]' [[Mileage Plus]] program.<ref name="routemap">{{cite web|title=Where we Fly|url=http://www.alohaairlines.com/WhereWeFly.php|publisher=Aloha Airlines|access-date=April 9, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070406184750/http://www.alohaairlines.com/WhereWeFly.php|archive-date=April 6, 2007|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=AlohaPass|url=http://www.alohaairlines.com/AlohaPass.php|access-date=April 9, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070403160911/http://www.alohaairlines.com/AlohaPass.php|archive-date=April 3, 2007|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref name="codeshare">[http://www.alohaairlines.com/travel_info/travel_policies/_codeshare_faq.php Codeshare partners] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080118054841/http://www.alohaairlines.com/travel_info/travel_policies/_codeshare_faq.php|date=January 18, 2008 }}</ref>

===Economic challenges===
Rising costs and [[Lost Decade (Japan)|economic stagnation in Japan]] put Aloha into a defensive position in the early 2000s, exacerbated by the [[September 11 attacks]], the [[Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome|SARS]] panic of 2003, and soaring fuel prices. On December 30, 2004, Aloha Airlines filed for [[Chapter 11, Title 11, United States Code|Chapter 11 bankruptcy]] protection. Led by Marc Bilbao and six other Giuliani advisors in December 2004, [[Giuliani Partners#Giuliani Capital Advisors|Giuliani Partners]] through Giuliani Capital sold Aloha to [[Ronald Burkle]]'s group of investors and also obtained a $65 million loan for the carrier.<ref name=Keeps>{{cite news|last=Vardi|first=Nathan|title=The Company He Keeps|url=https://www.forbes.com/forbes/2006/1113/138.html|work=[[Forbes]]|date=October 28, 2006}}</ref> In November 2005, Giuliani renegotiated with Aloha Chief David Banmiller for Giuliani's total compensation to be increased to $2.9 million.<ref name=Keeps/> Following approval of new labor contracts and securing additional investment from new investors, the airline emerged from bankruptcy protection on February 17, 2006. On August 30, 2006, [[Gordon Bethune]] was named [[chairman]].

Citing losses from a protracted fare war incited by inter-island competitor [[go! (airline)|go!]] (operated by parent company [[Mesa Airlines]]) and high fuel prices, Aloha filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection again on March 20, 2008.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/pacific/stories/2008/03/17/daily42.html|title=Aloha Airlines files for second bankruptcy in 3 years, blames go! for losses|first=Chad|last=Blair|work=[[American City Business Journals]]|date=March 20, 2008}}</ref> Ten days later, on March 30, 2008, Aloha Airlines announced the suspension of all scheduled passenger flights, with the final day of operation to be March 31, 2008.<ref>{{cite news|last=McAvoy|first=Audrey| url=https://www.seattletimes.com/life/travel/hawaiis-aloha-airlines-halting-all-passenger-service/|title=Aloha Airlines halting passenger service|agency=[[Associated Press]]|via=[[Seattle Times]]|date=March 30, 2008}}</ref> The shutdown resulted in the layoffs of about 1,900 of the company's roughly 3,500 employees.<ref>{{cite news|last=Segal|first=Dave| url=http://archives.starbulletin.com/2008/03/31/news/story01.html|title=Aloha Air shuts down|work=[[Honolulu Star-Bulletin]]|date=March 31, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080408215229/http://starbulletin.com/2008/03/31/news/story01.html|archive-date=April 8, 2008}}</ref> [[Governor of Hawaii]] [[Linda Lingle]] asked the bankruptcy court involved to delay the shutdown of Aloha Airlines passenger services, and forcibly restore passenger service;<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.bizjournals.com/pacific/stories/2008/03/24/daily56.html|title=Lingle challenges Aloha shutdown in court|work=[[American City Business Journals]]|date=March 30, 2008}}</ref> however, federal Bankruptcy Judge Lloyd King declined, saying the court should not interfere with business decisions.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://starbulletin.com/2008/04/01/news/story03.html|title=Ending service is Aloha's call, court says|work=[[Honolulu Star-Bulletin]]|first=Dave|last=Segal|date=April 1, 2008| access-date=May 3, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080405224407/http://starbulletin.com/2008/04/01/news/story03.html|archive-date=April 5, 2008}}</ref>

After the shutdown of passenger operations, Aloha and its creditors represented by Fieldstone Aviation LLC sought to auction its profitable cargo and contract services division. Fieldstone arranged for Pacific Air Cargo to acquire the contract services ground handling division in 2008 for $2.2 million and it now operates it under the name Aloha Contract Services.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/lack-of-financing-leads-aloha-airlines-to-shut-down-cargo-division/articleshow/2994069.cms|title=Lack of financing leads Aloha Airlines to shut down cargo division|work=[[The Economic Times]]|date=April 29, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/pacific/news/2018/03/15/pacific-air-cargo-ceo-beti-ward-dies.html|title=Pacific Air Cargo CEO Beti Ward dies|first=Anna| last=Hrushka|work=[[American City Business Journals]]|date=March 15, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Aloha Contract Services|url=https://www.alohacontractservices.com/|publisher=Aloha Contract Services|access-date=April 18, 2021|archive-date=April 29, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210429170006/https://www.alohacontractservices.com/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Fieldstone Aviation LLC represented Aloha in the sale of the Aloha cargo division and solicited interest from potential buyers. Several companies expressed interest in purchasing Aloha's cargo division, including [[Seattle]]-based Saltchuk Resources, California-based Castle & Cooke Aviation, and Hawaii-based Kahala Capital (which included Richard Ing, a minority investor in the Aloha Air Group and member of Aloha's board of directors).<ref>{{cite news|url=http://starbulletin.com/2008/04/02/news/story01.html|title=Turbulent aftermath|work=[[Honolulu Star-Bulletin]]|first=Dave|last=Segal|date=April 2, 2008|access-date=May 3, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080405213710/http://starbulletin.com/2008/04/02/news/story01.html|archive-date=April 5, 2008}}</ref> However, a disagreement between cargo division bidders and Aloha's primary lender, GMAC Commercial Finance, ended with the bidders dropping out of the auction.<ref name="biddersdropout">{{cite news|url=http://starbulletin.com/2008/04/29/news/story04.html|title=Bidders drop out and funding halts|work=[[Honolulu Star-Bulletin]]|first=Dave|last=Segal|date=April 29, 2008|access-date=May 3, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080506091356/http://starbulletin.com/2008/04/29/news/story04.html|archive-date=May 6, 2008}}</ref> Almost immediately afterwards, GMAC halted all funding to Aloha's cargo division, forcing all cargo operations to cease; at the same time, Aloha's board of directors decided to convert its Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization filing into a [[Chapter 7, Title 11, United States Code|Chapter 7]] bankruptcy liquidation.<ref name="biddersdropout"/>

[[Saltchuk]] decided to renew its bid to purchase the cargo division at the urging of U.S. Senator [[Daniel Inouye]], and a deal between Aloha and Saltchuk was struck and approved by the federal bankruptcy court, where Saltchuk would purchase the cargo division for $10.5 million.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://starbulletin.com/2008/05/02/news/story01.html|title=Return flight|work=[[Honolulu Star-Bulletin]]|first=Dave|last=Segal|date=May 2, 2008|access-date=May 3, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080506101448/http://starbulletin.com/2008/05/02/news/story01.html|archive-date=May 6, 2008}}</ref> The sale arranged by Fieldstone Aviation LLC was approved by federal Bankruptcy Judge Lloyd King on May 12, 2008, with the sale expected to close two days later.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://archives.starbulletin.com/2008/05/13/news/story02.html|title=Court allows Seattle firm to buy Aloha's cargo division|date=May 13, 2008|first=Dave|last=Segal|work=[[Honolulu Star-Bulletin]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080517145327/http://starbulletin.com/2008/05/13/news/story02.html|archive-date=May 17, 2008}}</ref>

Prior to its bid for Aloha, Saltchuk Resources was already present in Hawaii through its subsidiaries Young Brothers/Hawaiian Tug & Barge, Hawaii Fuel Network, Maui Petroleum and Minit Stop Stores. The company also owns [[Northern Air Cargo]], [[Alaska]]'s largest cargo airline. A new subsidiary, '''Aeko Kula Inc.''', was set up by Saltchuk to operate [[Aloha Air Cargo]].

===Name and intellectual property===
In January 2011, Los Angeles-based Yucaipa Companies, the former majority shareholder of Aloha, won federal Bankruptcy Court approval to buy the Aloha name and other intellectual property for $1.5 million with a stipulation that it not resell the name to [[Mesa Air Group]], the parent of [[go! Mokulele]].<ref>{{Cite news| url=https://www.bizjournals.com/pacific/news/2011/01/05/aloha-airlines-name-and-assets-sold.html|title=Aloha Airlines' name and assets sold|work=[[American City Business Journals]]| date=January 5, 2011}}</ref> In 2009, Mesa sought to re-brand its go! planes as Aloha. But federal Bankruptcy Judge Lloyd King stopped the name change, following impassioned pleas from former Aloha Airlines employees who largely blamed Mesa for Aloha's demise.

==Destinations==
[[File:Aloha 732.jpg|thumb|Boeing 737-200]]
Prior to the shutdown of its passenger services on March 31, 2008, Aloha Airlines provided passenger service to/from the following destinations:

'''{{ASM}}'''
* [[Pago Pago]] ([[Pago Pago International Airport]]) twice weekly flight

'''{{CAN}}'''
* [[Vancouver]] ([[Vancouver International Airport]])

'''{{COK}}'''
* [[Rarotonga]] ([[Rarotonga International Airport]])

'''{{KIR}}'''
* [[Kiritimati]] ([[Cassidy International Airport]]) one weekly flight, usually on Sunday mornings to connect Hawaii with Christmas Island

'''{{MHL}}'''
* [[Kwajalein]] ([[Bucholz Army Airfield]]) twice weekly flight, alternate stop via Majuro
* [[Majuro]] ([[Marshall Islands International Airport]]) twice weekly flight, alternate stop via Kwajalein

'''[[Midway Atoll]]'''
* [[Midway Atoll|Midway]] ([[Henderson Field (Midway Atoll)|Henderson Field]]) scheduled chartered flights, usually on Wednesdays

'''{{USA}}'''
* [[Burbank, California|Burbank]] ([[Bob Hope Airport]])
* [[Hilo, Hawaii|Hilo]] ([[Hilo International Airport]])
* [[Honolulu]] ([[Honolulu International Airport]]) '''Hub'''
* [[Kahului, Hawaii|Kahului]] ([[Kahului Airport]]) '''Focus City'''
* [[Kailua, Hawaii County, Hawaii|Kailua]] ([[Kona International Airport]])
* [[Las Vegas, Nevada|Las Vegas]] ([[McCarran International Airport]])
* [[Lihue, Hawaii|Lihue]] ([[Lihue Airport]])
* [[Oakland, California|Oakland]] ([[Oakland International Airport]])
* [[Orange County, California|Orange County]] ([[John Wayne Airport]])
* [[Phoenix, Arizona|Phoenix]] ([[Sky Harbor International Airport]])
* [[Reno, Nevada|Reno]] ([[Reno/Tahoe International Airport]])
* [[Sacramento]] ([[Sacramento International Airport]])
* [[San Diego]] ([[San Diego International Airport]])

===Codeshare agreements===
Aloha Airlines had [[codeshare agreement]]s with the following airlines:
* [[Island Air (Hawaii)|Island Air]]<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/travel/news/2004-05-12-island-air_x.htm|title=Island Air launches independent Maui-Kona service|work=USA Today|agency=Associated Press|date=May 12, 2004|access-date=May 1, 2008}}</ref>
* [[United Airlines]]<ref>{{cite news|url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/travel/2004356123_trairlinetips20.html|title=Feel like you're flying by the seat of your pants? Sit back and relax with these tips|work=[[The Seattle Times]]|date=April 20, 2008|access-date=May 10, 2008|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080423192806/http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/travel/2004356123_trairlinetips20.html|archive-date= April 23, 2008|url-status= live}}</ref>

==Fleet==
===Final fleet===
At the time the Aloha airlines ceased operations, the airline's fleet was an all-[[Boeing 737|737]] fleet:

{| class="wikitable" style="margin:0.5em auto; text-align:center"
|+ Aloha Airlines fleet
|-
!rowspan=2|Aircraft
!rowspan=2|Total
!colspan=3|Passengers
!rowspan=2|Routes
!rowspan=2|Notes
|-
!<abbr title="First">F</abbr>
!<abbr title="Economy">Y</abbr>
!Total
|-
|[[Boeing 737-200]]
|13
|&mdash;
|127
|127
|Hawaii Inter-Island
|
|-
|[[Boeing 737-700]]
|8
|12
|112
|124
|US Mainland
|
|-
|[[Boeing 737-800]]
|1
|12
|150
|162
|US Mainland<br />(primarily Kahului-Sacramento)
|Leased from [[Transavia]]<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.airliners.net/photo/Aloha-Airlines-(Transavia/Boeing-737-8K2/1324487/| title = Boeing 737-8K2 - Aloha Airlines (Transavia Airlines) {{!}} Aviation Photo #1324487 {{!}} Airliners.net}}</ref>
|-
!Total
!22
!colspan=5|
|}

===Fleet development===
As of March 2008, the average age of the Aloha Airlines fleet was 18.2 years.{{Citation needed|date=January 2025}}

===Previously operated aircraft types===

Other jet aircraft previously operated by Aloha included the [[Boeing 737-300]] and [[737-400]].<ref>http://www.airliners.net, Aloha Airlines Boeing 737-300 and 737-400 photos in Hawaii</ref>  According to various Aloha Airlines flight schedules which appeared in the [[Official Airline Guide]] (OAG), these aircraft were used for a short period of time on inter-island flights in Hawaii.  Two [[Boeing 737-100]] aircraft were also used briefly during the mid seventies time frame.

The airline previously operated [[Douglas C-47]] prop aircraft followed by [[Fairchild F-27]] and [[Vickers Viscount]] turboprop airliners.  The first jet type operated by Aloha was the [[British Aircraft Corporation]] [[BAC One-Eleven]].  Aloha subsidiary Aloha Pacific operated the [[McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30]] wide body jetliner.

===Retired fleet prior to ceasing operations===

{| class="wikitable" style="margin:0.5em auto; text-align:center"
|+ Aloha Airlines retired fleet<ref>{{cite web|url=http://aerobernie.bplaced.net/Aloha%20Airlines.html|title=Aloha Airlines fleet|website=aerobernie.bplaced.net|access-date=February 20, 2021}}</ref>
|-
!Aircraft
!Total
!Introduced
!Retired
!Notes
|-
|[[BAC One-Eleven|BAC One-Eleven Series 200AU]]
|3
|1966
|1969
|Transferred to [[Mohawk Airlines]]
|-
|[[Boeing 737-100]]
|2
|1973
|1978
|Transferred to [[Air California]]
|-
|[[Boeing 737-300|Boeing 737-3T0]]
|3
|1988
|1993
|
|-
|[[Boeing 737-300QC]]
|2
|1997
|1997
|Transferred to [[America West Airlines]]
|-
|[[Boeing 737-400]]
|2
|1992
|1996
|
|-
|[[Douglas C-47 Skytrain]]
|9
|1946
|1965
|
|-
|[[Fairchild F-27]]
|6
|1959
|1967
|
|-
|[[McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30]]
|1
|1984
|1985
|Leased from [[Continental Airlines]]
|-
|[[Vickers Viscount|Vickers Viscount 745D]]
|4
|1963
|1971
|
|}

==Accidents and incidents==
[[File:Aloha Airlines Flight 243 fuselage.png|thumb|The [[fuselage]] of Aloha Airlines Flight 243 after suffering explosive decompression over Hawaii]]

*On June 27, 1969, [[Vickers Viscount]] (N7410) was damaged beyond repair when it collided on the ground with [[McDonnell-Douglas DC-9|Douglas DC-9-31]] N906H of [[Hawaiian Airlines]] at [[Honolulu International Airport]].<ref name=ASN270669>{{cite web|url=http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19690627-0|title=Accident description|publisher=Aviation Safety Network|access-date=October 7, 2009}}</ref>
*On August 8, 1971, [[Vickers Viscount]] (N7415) was damaged beyond economic repair at [[Honolulu International Airport]] when a fire broke out upon landing.<ref name=ASN080871>{{cite web|url=http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19710808-0|title=Accident description|publisher=Aviation Safety Network|access-date=October 8, 2009}}</ref>
*On April 28, 1988, [[Aloha Airlines Flight 243]], a scheduled [[Boeing 737-200]] flight between [[Hilo]] and [[Honolulu]], suffered extensive damage after an [[explosive decompression]] in flight, but was able to land safely at [[Kahului Airport]] on [[Maui]].<ref name=StarAdvertiserPhotos>{{cite news|title=Aloha Airlines Flight 243, April 28, 1988|url=https://www.staradvertiser.com/2018/04/27/photo-galleries/aloha-airlines-flight-243-april-28-1988/|work=[[Honolulu Star-Advertiser]]|date=April 27, 2018}}</ref><ref name=StarAdvertiserFlight243>{{cite news|last=Hurley|first=Timothy|title=Remembering Aloha Airlines Flight 243|url=https://www.staradvertiser.com/2018/04/28/hawaii-news/remembering-aloha-airlines-flight-243/|work=[[Honolulu Star-Advertiser]]|date=April 28, 2018}}</ref> A senior flight attendant, Clarabelle Lansing, was the sole fatality when she was blown out of the airplane, and 64 passengers and one crew member were injured, eight of them seriously.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/AAR8903.pdf |title=Aircraft Accident Report, Aloha Airlines Flight 243, Boeing 737-100, N73711, Near Maui, Hawaii, April 28, 1998 |date=June 14, 1989 |publisher=[[National Transportation Safety Board]] |id=NTSB/AAR-89/03 |access-date=July 25, 2024}}</ref> The safe landing of the aircraft with such a major loss of integrity was unprecedented. Subsequent investigations concluded that the accident was caused by [[metal fatigue]]. The 1990 made-for-television film ''[[Miracle Landing]]'' is based on this accident.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ortega |first=Sergio |date=1999-08-01 |title=Miracle Landing (Movie review) |url=https://airodyssey.net/1999/08/01/movie-ml/ |access-date=2022-09-13 |website=airodyssey.net |language=en}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[List of defunct airlines of the United States]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Refbegin}}
*{{cite news|title=Aloha Airlines: Ready to Protect Their Beachfront in Paradise|last=Young|first=Branden|work=[[Airliners (magazine)|Airliners: The World's Aviation Magazine]]|publisher=Airliners Publications|pages=35–39|date=July–August 2006}}
*{{cite book|last=Forman|first=Peter|title=Wings of Paradise: Hawaii's Incomparable Airlines|publisher=Barnstormer Books|year=2005|location=Kailua, HI|isbn=978-0-9701594-4-1}}
{{Refend}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/*/http://www.alohaairlines.com|title=Aloha Airlines |website=Aloha Airlines}}
* {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/*/http://www.alohaair.com|title=Aloha Airlines – Alohaair.com}} (has the earliest archives)<!--Alohaair.com has the earliest archives, dating to 1996-->
* {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/*/http://www.alohaaircargo.com/|title=Aloha Airlines Cargo}}
* ''{{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/*/http://www.spiritofaloha.com/|title=Spirit of Aloha}}'' (inflight magazine)
* [http://pacific.bizjournals.com/pacific/stories/2008/03/24/daily52.html?ana=yfcpc Aloha Airlines to stop flying Monday; CEO calls it 'an incredibly dark day']
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20081122082342/http://www.kitv.com/money/15746095/detail.html Aloha Airlines Ending Passenger Flights] [[KITV-TV]]
* [http://starbulletin.com/2004/12/03/business/index1.html Aloha Airlines cuts Pacific trips] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041209084651/http://starbulletin.com/2004/12/03/business/index1.html |date=December 9, 2004 }} [[Honolulu Star-Bulletin]]
* [http://www.starbulletin.com/business/20081203_Yucaipa_outbids_Hawaiian_for_Aloha.html Yucaipa outbids Hawaiian for Aloha] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081206054758/http://www.starbulletin.com/business/20081203_Yucaipa_outbids_Hawaiian_for_Aloha.html |date=December 6, 2008 }} [[Honolulu Star-Bulletin]]
* [https://digitalcollections.museumofflight.org/nodes/view/27963?keywords=Airlines&type=all&highlights=WyJhaXJsaW5lcyJd Aloha Airlines | Museum of Flight Digital Collections]

{{Portal bar|United States|Hawaii|Companies|Aviation}}
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[[Category:Aloha Airlines| ]]
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[[Category:Defunct companies based in Hawaii]]
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[[Category:American companies disestablished in 2008]]