By The Way...A 62 Year Old American Airline Just Went Bye Bye

[DemocratInSoCal]

Aloha Airlines announced today that it's their last day of operation, and all flights are immediately cancelled.

But remember folks, these things tend to happen, and is no indication that the U.S. economy is in any sort of trouble.

[trof]

1. Aloha, Aloha.

:-(

[midnight]

2. Well, maybe we can inport our airline. Maybe the Chinese

want to have this market, and we had to remove any competion.

[rucky]

3. They've been saying goodbye the whole time. n/t

[IntravenousDemilo]

4. It's your candidate's birthday today!

Christopher Walken, that is...

[Parche]

5. Here Is To Aloha

:cry: :cry: :cry:

:patriot:

:hi:

[jazzjunkysue]

6. Rickshaw Airways: We peddle, so you don't have to.

I feel better, already.

[Kajsa]

7. Goodbye, Aloha.

This is a sad day.

They were one of the few airlines that flew to the islands
from OC airport.

:(

[chixydix]

8. Following Pan American, Braniff, Frontier, Republic,

* AAXICO Airlines (1946 - 1965, to Saturn Airways)
* Access Air (1998 - 2001)
* ADI Domestic Airlines
* Aeroamerica (1974 - 1982)
* Aero Coach (1983 - 1991)
* Aero International Airlines
* Aeromech Airlines (1951 - 1983, to Wright Airlines)
* AeroSun International
* AFS Airlines (Arcata Flying Service)
* Air America (owned and operated by the CIA in SouthEast Asia)
* Air America (1980s)
* Air Astro
* Air Atlanta (1981 - 88)
* AirAtlantic Airlines
* Air Bama
* Air Berlin, Inc. (Air Berlin USA) (1978-1990 )
* Airborne Express (1946 - 2003, to DHL)
* Air California, later AirCal (1967 - 87, to American Airlines)
* Air Carolina
* Air Central (Michigan)
* Air Central (Oklahoma) (to Trans-Central Airlines)
* Air Chaparral (1980 - 82)
* Air Chico
* Air Colorado
* Air Cortez
* Air Florida (1972 - 84)
* Air Gemini
* Air General
* Air Great Lakes
* Air Hawaii (1960s) (1960s)
* Air Hawaii (ceased operations in 1986)
* Air Hyannis
* Air Idaho
* Air Illinois
* Air Iowa
* Airlift International (1946 - 81)
* Air Kentucky
* Air LA
* Air-Lift Commuter
* Air Lincoln
* Air Link Airlines
* Air Link Airways
* Air Metro
* Air Miami (to North American Airlines)
* Air Michigan
* Air Mid-America
* Air Midwest
* Air Missouri
* Air Molokai (1980s)
* Air Molokai (1990s)
* Air Molokai-Tropic Airlines
* Air Nebraska
* Air Nevada
* Air New England (1975 - 81)
* Air New Orleans (1981 - 88)
* Air Niagara
* Air North (Alaska)
* Air North (1963 - 1983, to Brockway Air)
* Air O'Hare
* Air Olympia
* Air Oregon
* Air1 (1980s)
* Air One (1990s)
* AirPac
* Air Pacific (USA)
* Air Pennsylvania
* Air Resorts Airline
* Air Sierra
* Air South (1968 - 1975, to Florida Airlines;
* Air South (1981-1982)
* Air South (1986-1987)
* Air South (1994-1997)
* Air Speed (1974)
* Air Spirit
* Air Sunshine (1970s)
* Air Sunshine (1980s)
* Air Texana
* Air Texas
* Air Trails
* Air 21
* Air US
* Air Utah
* AirVantage Airlines
* Air Vegas (1971 - 2004)
* Air Vermont
* Air Virginia
* Airways of New Mexico
* Air West
* Alaska Air Transport (1935 to 1939) to Alaska Coastal Airlines
* Alaska Coastal Airlines (1939 - 1968) to Alaska Airlines
* Alaska Coastal-Ellis Airlines
* Albany Air
* All American Aviation Company (became US Airways)
* Allegheny Airlines (became US Airways)
* Aloha Airlines (ceased passenger operations March 31, 2008)
* American Central Airlines
* American Flyers Airline
* American International Airways
* American Overseas Airlines (1945 - 1950) merged into Pan American World Airways
* Arista International Airlines
* Arizona Airways
* Arizona Airways (1993-1996)
* Aroostook Airways
* Aspen Airways (1962 - 1990)
* Atlantic Coast Airlines (1989 - 2004, to Independence Air)
* Atlantic Gulf Airlines
* Bar Harbor Airlines (1971 - 1992)
* Big Sky Airlines (1978 - 2008)
* Boeing Air Transport (1927 - 1930) to United Airlines
* Bonanza Air Lines (1945 - 1968, to Hughes Airwest)
* Braniff (1991 - 1992)
* Braniff Inc. (1983 - 1990)
* Braniff International Airways (1928 - 1982)
* Britt Airways (1976 - 1987)
* Brockway Air
* Business Express Airlines to American Eagle
* CalPac (California Pacific) (1993 - 1995 to Mesa Airlines)
* Cal Sierra Airlines (1980)
* Cape Smythe Air (1975 - 2005, to Frontier Flying Service)
* Capitol Air Lines (1970s - 1980s)
* Capital Airlines (1936 - 1961, to United Airlines)
* Capitol Airways (1946 - 1982)
* Cardinal Airlines
* Caribbean Sun (2002 - 2007)
* Carnival Air Lines
* Cascade Airways (1969 - 1986)
* Catalina Airlines (1940 - 1969)
* CCAir
* Centennial Airlines
* Central Airlines (1944 - 1967)
* Challenge Air Cargo (1978 - 2001)
* Chicago Air
* Chicago and Southern Air Lines (1934 - 1953)
* Chicago Express Airlines (1993 - 2005)
* Coastal Airways (1929 -1930)
* Cochise Airlines
* Colgan Airways (1971 - 1986, to Presidential Airways, revived 1991, and currently operating as Continental Express, United Express, and US Airways Express: see http://www.colganair.com)
* Colonial Air Transport (1926 - 1930)
* Command Airways
* Conquest Sun Airlines (to AirTran Airways)
* Crown Airways (1969 - 1992 to Mesa Airlines)
* Curtiss Flying Service (1929 - 1932)
* Delta Express (1996-2003: replaced by Song; folded back into Delta Air Lines)
* Desert Sun Airlines (1995 - 1997 to Mesa Airlines)
* Eastern Air Lines (1926 - 1991)
* Eastwind Airlines
* Ellis Airlines (1936 to 1962) to Alaska Coastal Airlines
* Emerald Air (1978 - 1991)
* Emery Worldwide Airlines (1977 - 2003)
* Empire Airlines (1976 - 1985, to Piedmont)
* Eureka Aero (c. 1976 - 1979)
* Falcon Air Express (1995 - 2007)
* Fine Air (1989 - 2004)
* Florida Coastal Airlines (ceased operations 2006)
* FloridaGulf Airlines (1991 - 1997, to Air Midwest)
* Flying Tiger Line (1945 - 1988, to Federal Express)
* Freelandia
* Frontier Airlines (1950 - 1986)
* Galaxy Airlines
* Gem State Airlines (1979, to Golden Gate Airlines)
* Gemini Airlines
* Global International Airways (1981 - ?)
* Golden Gate Airlines (1980-1981)
* Golden Pacific Airlines (1969-1973)
* Golden Pacific Airlines (1981 - 1988)
* Golden West Airlines
* Great Plains Airlines (2001 - 2004)
* Great Western Aviation Company (to AirVantage Airlines)
* Gulf Air Transport (1979 - 1990)
* Hooters Air (2003 - 2006)
* Hughes Airwest (1968 - 1980, to Republic Airlines)
* Imperial Airlines (1964 - 1986)
* Independence Air (2004 - 2006)
* Independent Air (1966 - 1990)
* Indigo Airlines
* Intermountain Airlines
* Irving Airways (1936) to Alaska Air Transport
* Island Pacific Air (to Air Hawaii)
* Jet 24 (1981 - 1986)
* Jet Express
* Key Airlines
* Kitty Hawk Airways
* Kitty Hawk International (to Kalitta Air)
* Kiwi International Air Lines
* L'Express Airlines (1989-1992)
* Lake Central Airlines (1949 - 1968, to Allegheny Airlines)
* Lakeland Airlines (1980 - 1984)
* Las Vegas Airlines (1973 - 1987)
* Legend Airlines (1996 - 2000)
* Leisure Air (1992 - 1995)
* Liberty Express Airlines ((1994 - 1997, to Air Midwest)
* Lone Star Airlines
* Mackey Airlines (1957 - 1981)
* Maddux Airlines (1927 - 1929, to Transcontinental Air Transport)
* Mahalo Air (1993 - 1997)
* Mall Airways (1973 - 1989, to Business Express)
* Marine Airways (1936 to 1939) to Alaska Coastal Airlines
* MarkAir (1947 - 1995)
* Marquette Airlines (to Trans World Airlines)
* MAXjet (2005 - 2007)
* Mayflower Airlines (1936 - ?)
* MetroJet
* Mexus Airlines
* MGM Grand Air
* MidAtlantic Airways (2002 - 2006)
* Mid-Continent Airlines (1928 - 1952, to Braniff)
* Mid Pacific Air (1981 - 1988)
* Mid-State Airlines (1964 - ?, to Sentry Airlines)
* Midway Airlines (1979 - 1991 and 1993 - 2003)
* Mississippi Valley Airlines (1969 - 1985)
* Modern Air Transport (1946-1975)
* Mohawk Airlines (1952 - 1988, to Allegheny Airlines)
* Morris Air to Southwest Airlines
* Mountain Air Express
* Mountain West Airlines (1995 - 1997 to Mesa Airlines)
* Muse Air to Southwest Airlines
* National Airlines (1929 - 1980, to Pan American World Airways)
* National Airlines (1983 - 1986)
* National Airlines/Private Jet Expeditions (1994 - 1995)
* National Airlines (1999 - 2002)
* National Air Transport (1926 - 1930)
* Nations Air Express (1994-1998)
* Nationwide Airlines Southeast
* New England & Western Air Transportation Co. (1930)
* New York Air (1980 - 1986, to Continental Airlines)
* New York Airways (1949 - 1979)
* New York, Rio, and Buenos Aires Line (to Pan American World Airways)
* North American Airlines
* North Central Airlines (1939 - 1979)
* Northeast Airlines (1940 - 1972, to Delta Air Lines)
* Northeastern International Airways (1980 - 1986)
* Overseas National Airways (1950 - 1978)
* Ozark Airlines (1943 - 1986, to Trans World Airlines)
* Pacific Air Lines (1958 - 1968, to Hughes Airwest)
* Pacific Air Transport (1926 - 1927)
* Pacific Alaska Airways (1973 - 1986)
* Pacific East Airlines (ceased operations 1984)
* Pacific Express
* Pacific Nevada Airlines
* Pacific Southwest Airlines (PSA) (1945 - 1987, to USAir)
* Pan American Airways (1996-1998)
* Pan American Airways (1998-2004)
* Pan American-Grace Airways (Panagra) (1928 - 1967, to Braniff International Airways)
* Pan American World Airways (1927 - 1991)
* Paradise Island Airlines
* People Express (1981 - 1987, to Continental Airlines)
* Piedmont Airlines (1940 - 1989, to USAir)
* Pioneer Airlines
* Planet Airways (????- June 8, 2005, speculation only at this point in time)
* Potomac Air
* Presidential Airways (1985 - 1989)
* Private Jet Expeditions (1989 - 1995)
* Pride Air (August 1985 - November 1985)
* Pro Air (1997 - 2000)
* Provincetown-Boston Airlines
* Ransome Airlines (1967 - 1986)
* Red Carpet Airlines
* Red Dodge Aviation
* Reeve Aleutian Airways (1932 - 2001)
* Regent Air
* RegionsAir (1996 - 2007)
* Reno Air (1990 - 99, to American Airlines)
* Republic Airlines (1979 - 1986, to Northwest Airlines)
* Rich International Airways (1971 - 1996)
* Riddle Airlines (1945 - 1965, to Airlift International
* Rio Airways (1970 - 1987)
* Robertson Air Service
* Rocky Mountain Airways (1964 - 1986)
* Russia Jet Direct (2005)
* Samoa Air (American Samoa, ceased operations in 2003)
* Saturn Airways (1960 - 76, to Trans International Airlines)
* Seaboard World Airlines (1946 - 80, to Flying Tiger Line)
* Shuttle by United and United Shuttle (1994 - 2001)
* SkyTrain Airlines (to Air Great Lakes)
* SkyValue (2006-2007)
* Slick Airways (1946-1965)
* Song (2003-April 30th, 2006 Merged back in with its parent company, Delta Air Lines)
* South Pacific Island Airways (SPIA) (American Samoa, ceased operations in 1987)
* Southeast Airlines (1992 - 2004)
* Southern Air Transport
* Southern Airways (1943 - 1979, to Republic Airlines)
* Southern Jersey Airways
* Southwest Airways (1946 - 58, renamed Pacific Air Lines)
* Standard Airlines (1926 - 30) 1927 subsidiary of Aero Corp. of Ca., In 1930, bought by Western Air Express, thru merger with TAT became TWA, Transcontinental & Western Air, Trans World Airlines
* StatesWest Airlines (1986-1993)
* Stol Air Commuter
* Sunbird Airlines (1979-1987 to CCAir)
* SunCoast Airlines (?-1988)
* Sun West Airlines
* Sunworld International Airlines (? - 2004)
* Superior Airlines (1993 - 1995 to Mesa Airlines
* Swift Aire Lines (1969 - 1981)
* TAG Airlines
* Tamir Transport (?-1971)
* TAT - Maddux Air Lines (1928 - 30)
* Tennessee Airways
* Texas Air
* Texas Trans Air
* Texas International Airlines (1944 - 1986, to Continental Airlines)
* The Hawaii Express (1982 - 1983)
* Tower Air (1983 - 2000)
* Trans Air (1979 -1985)
* Transamerica Airlines (1948 - 1986)
* Trans-Central Airlines
* Transcontinental Air Transport (1928 - 1930, TWA)
* TransMeridian Airlines (1995 - 2005)
* Transocean Airlines 1946-1962
* Trans International Airlines (1947 - 1986)
* TranStar Airlines (1981 - 1987)
* Trans-Colorado Airlines
* Trans-Texas Airways
* Trans World Airlines (1930 - 2001, to American Airlines)
* Trans World Express
* Trump Shuttle (1989 - 1991, to US Airways)
* UltrAir (1993)
* Universal Airlines (US Cargo Operator 1966 - 1972, to Trans International Airlines)
* ValuJet Airlines (1993 - 1997, to AirTran Airways)
* Vanguard Airlines (1994 - 2002)
* Varney Airlines to United Airlines
* WestAir Commuter Airlines
* West Coast Airlines (1940s - 1968, to Hughes Airwest)
* Western Airlines (1925 - 1987, to Delta Air Lines)
* Western Pacific Airlines (ceased operations 1998)
* Westward Airways (2002 - 2005)
* Wien Air Alaska
* Wilmington - Catalina Air Line
* WinAir Airlines (1998 - 1999)
* Wings Airways
* Wright Airlines
* Zantop Air Transport
* Zantop Flying Service
* Zantop International Airlines

[DemocratInSoCal]

9. I Realize You're Trying To Make This Seem Common & Insignificant

I don't see any airlines on your list, that had survived a total of 62 years, before suddenly going BK.

To draw a fair comparison, why don't you just list airlines that have been around 50+ years before shutting down, instead of making it sound like "no big deal," since so many upstart, or short lived airlines, did not survive.

Aloha Airlines has been around since the end of WWII. That's a pretty long time in my book.

Nothing to see here, move along.

[chixydix]

11. I'm sorry, did I say they were insignificant? No, actually I did no such thing.

But airlines going belly-up are extremely common, as that short (compared with world-wide) list clearly show.
If you had bothered to peruse the list you would have seen at least a dozen that began pre-WWII and lasted at least the magic number of 62 years (where did you dig that one up?)...

[JanMichael]

14. Eastern Air Lines (1926 - 1991)

you don't remember this one? It's the first one I thought of.

[TheMightyFavog]

15. What about Pan Am?

Or TWA.

[Mind_your_head]

10. As someone on DU (don't remember who, sorry) said several years back.....

something to the effect of:

We're gonna one day soon have only one airline and call it "airline", one restaurant and call it "restaurant", one bank and call it "bank", one store and call it "store", etc. - you get the idea......

PEOPLE REALLY LOSE when there is no more competition in a particular field/industry. Competition drives innovation and 'in a correct way' cost effectiveness (versus the monopolistic way we are currently going that cost effectiveness means cutting everybodies throat, including your/our own).

Let's not even begin to think about having choices, diversity, what appeals to one may not appeal to all....the beauty/attraction of being unique. It's all gonna be the same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, same, monotonous, endless same.

[northzax]

18. well sure, there's only one problem

no one has figured out how to make a sustainable profit on domestic air travel except Southwest. all the airlines are already the same, and are perfectly price inflexible. almost all air travelers fall into one of two categories: business travelers who care only about convenience, and leisure travelers who care only about price.

for the business traveler, if he wants to leave at 8:30 and fly direct to Chicago, he's going to take the closest flight to 8:30 as possible, if he could save 15 bucks by going 15 minutes earlier, he's not going to.

for the leisure traveler, he wants price more than anything else. if Delta is $15 less than United, he's taking Delta. Even if United gives him a sandwich.

given that reality, why give anyone a meal? no one wants to pay for it.

[Parche]

19. Profitable Airlines

Yes Southwest has made a profit every year since their inception back in the early 70's

Alaska eeked out a profit last year, as did Air Tran, surprise of the year, USair made a profit, as did Continental.........

[RB TexLa]

12. The open skies treaty shouldn't have effected them that much

I could see if one of the others didn't want to try to compete.

[ellisonz]

13. Aloha is going under because of fuel costs and a price war with go! (Mesa Air Group) and Hawaiian.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Go%21_%28airline%29#Lawsuits_over_formation

2,000 workers throughout the Islands will lose their jobs. Inter-island fares are likely to rise dramatically now that go! has forced Aloha out.

[IronLionZion]

16. Are Americans taking fewer Hawaii vacations?

:shrug: That might be the real indicator, not that the airline went under.

[DainBramaged]

20. Good point.

Having never been to the islands, (maybe if I win the lottery) and knowing how bad the car business is for everyone, I can accept your assumption.

[Arugula Latte]

17. Sad. I've flown that airline...I didn't realize they were in trouble.

:(

What is going to become of this country?