Three Airlines Close Doors in One Week

ALOHA AIRLINES

     First on March 31, Aloha Airlines, in business for 61 years, closed their doors because of competition from go Airlines a subsidiary of Mesa Airlines and the price of fuel.  In a lawsuite filed by Aloha Airlines and Hawaiin Airlines against Mesa Airlines (parent company of go! Airlines, it is alleged that Mesa's chief financial officer at the time, Peter Murnane, stated: "We definitely don't want to wait for (Aloha) to die, rather we should be the ones who give them the last push."

     go! Airlines came into the market in 2006 and started charging fares that were 1/2 of the lowest fares that Aloha and Hawaiin were charging.  Mesa Airlines has a reputation in the industry as being anti-union.  At their main carrier when union contract negotiations don't go well, they threaten the union with creating other anti-union airlines by moving airplanes from one carrier to the other.

Click on title here to read one of the stories about Aloha Airlines: 

 Aloha Airlines files for bankruptcy, blames go!  By Rick Daysog, The Honolulu Advertiser Staff Writer

ATA AIRLINES

     The second airline to close their doors this week for good is ATA Airlines Inc, formerly known as American Trans Air.  This discount carrier flew many military charters and was well known as the low cost carrier to/from many vacation destinations including Hawaii.  The airline started flying in 1973 and began scheduled service in 1986. 

Click on the title here to read on of the stories about ATA Airlines closing: 

ATA Airlines files for bankruptcy, shuts down.  From Staff and Wire Reports, Dallas Morning News. 

SKYBUS AIRLINES

     Skybus Airlines closed it's doors this week after flying for less than one year.  Skybus was a low cost carrier offering at least 10 seats on each flight for $10.00 one way.  Each additional seat was sold for 50% of the market priced charged by other carriers. 

Click on the title here to read one of the stories about Skybus Airlines closing: