Aloha Airlines Inc

Evidence of metal fatigue has been found on the Aloha Airlines jetliner that managed to land here after a large chunk of the upper fuselage ripped away, federal officials say. National Transportation Safety Board member Joseph T. Nall told reporters Sunday night that investigators "have found some cracking, some fatigue cracking" in rivet holes on a part of the fuselage that remained intact when the Boeing 737 suffered explosive decompression during a flight on Thursday afternoon.

Long-troubled Aloha Airlines, saying it was unable to find a buyer or financing to stay in business, will end passenger service today, grounding the only carrier offering nonstop flights from Orange County to Hawaii. The Honolulu-based carrier, which had filed for Bankruptcy Court protection less than two weeks ago, announced the move on its website Sunday and said it had canceled today's flights from Hawaii and several cities in California and Nevada, including service to John Wayne Airport.

Damage to the crippled Aloha Airlines jetliner that landed here after a large section of its upper fuselage ripped away was even greater than originally thought, a federal official disclosed this weekend. Joseph T.

UAL Corp.'s United Airlines said it was taking a minority stake in Aloha Airlines as the two carriers expand their alliance in Hawaii and Pacific-region markets. The carriers plan to expand "marketing, operational and financial opportunities," Chicago-based United and Honolulu- based Aloha said. UAL will take an undisclosed stake in Aloha and receive a seat on Aloha's board, the carriers said.

UAL Corp.'s United Airlines said it was taking a minority stake in Aloha Airlines as the two carriers expand their alliance in Hawaii and Pacific-region markets. The carriers plan to expand "marketing, operational and financial opportunities," Chicago-based United and Honolulu- based Aloha said. UAL will take an undisclosed stake in Aloha and receive a seat on Aloha's board, the carriers said.

Orange County's congressional delegation has signed a letter urging Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta to approve Aloha Airlines' application for nonstop flights from John Wayne Airport to the nation's capital. The letter was signed by Reps. Ken Calvert , Christopher Cox, Gary Miller, Dana Rohrabacher, Ed Royce and Loretta Sanchez, according to a statement released by Cox.

A team investigating why an 18-foot section of an airplane ripped off in flight said Wednesday a number of discrepancies in Aloha Airlines' records indicated problems with aircraft were noted but no record was made of corrections. Lonnie R. Giles, leader of a Federal Aviation Administration inspection team, said Aloha's structural inspection program and its compliance with FAA airworthiness directives were reviewed in a special inspection in May.

Aloha Airlines has already booked nearly 6,000 passengers for Orange County's first Hawaii flights from John Wayne Airport beginning May 1, even though the flights haven't been approved by county supervisors. The once-daily round-trip flight to Honolulu and a second flight to Maui beginning June 1 have been tied up for months in wrangling over the county's plan to build a new airport at the closed El Toro Marine base.

John Wayne Airport may get its first direct flights to Hawaii under a proposal that will be presented to county supervisors next week. Among several alternatives being considered is one that would allow Aloha Airlines to become the airport's 11th carrier and the first to provide daily departures to Honolulu and Maui. In a letter to county airport officials, Aloha President Glenn R.

A federal agency said Friday that it had taken responsibility for three pension plans covering nearly 4,000 workers and retirees of Aloha Airlines, which recently emerged from bankruptcy protection. The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp., which insures private defined-benefit pension plans, estimated that together the three plans were 55% funded, with $190 million in assets to cover $345 million in benefit promises. The agency said it would be liable for $117 million of the $155-million shortfall.

Two Los Angeles investors, billionaire Ron Burkle and former football star Willie Gault, are planning to take a flier on Hawaii. They lead an investor group that has tentatively agreed to acquire control of Aloha Airgroup Inc., which owns Aloha Airlines, in a $100-million deal to help the small Honolulu-based carrier emerge from bankruptcy reorganization, Aloha said Friday. The investors are betting that Aloha, at least, is poised to rebound from the financial crisis that has beset the U.S.

An Aloha Airlines co-pilot was arrested for allegedly being intoxicated as he prepared to fly from California to Hawaii, the carrier said Monday. The pilot was detained Saturday morning in Oakland, reportedly after an airport screener smelled alcohol as the pilot passed through a security checkpoint. "Aloha considers this to be a very serious matter," the airline said in a statement Monday.

Orange County's congressional delegation has signed a letter urging Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta to approve Aloha Airlines' application for nonstop flights from John Wayne Airport to the nation's capital. The letter was signed by Reps. Ken Calvert , Christopher Cox, Gary Miller, Dana Rohrabacher, Ed Royce and Loretta Sanchez, according to a statement released by Cox.

Aloha Airlines has applied to the U.S. Department of Transportation for two daily nonstop flights from John Wayne Airport to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. If approved, the route would provide the only nonstop service between Washington, D.C., and Orange County, airline officials said. The new flights would begin July 1.

The planned merger of Hawaiian Airlines Inc. and Aloha Airlines, which generated widespread opposition from employees, stockholders and consumers, has been called off, a Hawaiian spokesman said. "It's clear that the parties will not be able to satisfy the conditions of the merger agreement," Hawaiian spokesman Keoni Wagner said late Saturday. Aloha and Hawaii unveiled the proposed merger in December, saying it was necessary for the financial health of both companies.

A federal agency said Friday that it had taken responsibility for three pension plans covering nearly 4,000 workers and retirees of Aloha Airlines, which recently emerged from bankruptcy protection. The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp., which insures private defined-benefit pension plans, estimated that together the three plans were 55% funded, with $190 million in assets to cover $345 million in benefit promises. The agency said it would be liable for $117 million of the $155-million shortfall.

An Aloha Airlines co-pilot was arrested for allegedly being intoxicated as he prepared to fly from California to Hawaii, the carrier said Monday. The pilot was detained Saturday morning in Oakland, reportedly after an airport screener smelled alcohol as the pilot passed through a security checkpoint. "Aloha considers this to be a very serious matter," the airline said in a statement Monday.

Hawaiian Airlines Inc. and Aloha Airgroup Inc. agreed Wednesday to merge Hawaii's two main carriers into a new company, Aloha Holdings Inc., with combined annual sales of about $1 billion. The company would be 52% owned by Hawaiian Airlines' shareholders and 28% owned by Aloha Airgroup shareholders, the companies said. The remaining 20% would be held by Greg Brenneman, the former president of Continental Airlines Inc.

A deal that would allow Aloha Airlines to begin first-ever flights from Orange County to Hawaii on May 1 was approved in concept Wednesday by a key county supervisor who had threatened to hold up Aloha's lease. Supervisor Todd Spitzer said several actions taken this week by supporters of a proposed airport at the closed El Toro Marine base eased his concerns--and those of colleague Tom Wilson--over approving new airline leases at John Wayne Airport.