Hawaiian Airlines looks to stay in bankruptcy longer
Following a judge’s decision Tuesday to force a contract on pilots to mid-April, Hawaiian Airlines plan to emerge from bankruptcy by Friday has been postponed. Judge Robert Faris sternly recommended for both sides to comprise. “I wish everyone the best in resolving this matter consensually. That would be better for everybody,” he said.
After listening to a day of testimony, Judge Faris scheduled April 13 as the date for discussion on a forced contract. This after pilots for the bankrupt airline rejected a tentative agreement for a new two-year contract last week.
March 21 was to be the date Hawaiian expected to emerge from bankruptcy. Because of Judge Faris’ decision, the airline looks to stay in bankruptcy longer than expected. Although, Judge Faris conditionally approved the airline’s reorganization bid earlier this month, with the stipulation that Hawaiian obtain new labor contracts with all six of its union, Honolulu Star-Bulletin reported.
Separately, Hawaiian Airlines has been outperforming other airlines in terms of load factor. As reported in eTurboNews, the beleaguered airline led the nation’s carriers at filling seats in February with a systemwide load factor of 83.7 percent. It has also improved its revenue passenger miles (RPMs) by 4.3 percent and increased its Available Seat Miles (ASMs) by 3.2 percent, boosted by big year-over-year increases in charter flight operations.
HONOLULU (eTurboNews)
March 31, 2005
Posted in: Airlines & Railways