United Airlines and Aloha Airlines Announce Expanded Agreement
CHICAGO and HONOLULU, May 3 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — United Airlines and Aloha Airlines today announced plans to expand their existing cooperation agreement and strengthen their partnership in the Hawaii and TransPacific markets.
The agreement capitalizes on both Aloha’s and United’s 60 years of experience in serving Hawaii, and expands marketing, operational and financial opportunities for both carriers. Under the agreement, United Airlines receives a minority equity stake in Aloha that could expand over time and a seat on Aloha’s board of directors.
"We are pleased to broaden and deepen our relationship with Aloha, as we celebrate our 60th anniversary of serving Hawaii," said Jake Brace, United’s executive vice president and Chief Financial Officer. "Hawaii is one of the most important travel destinations for our customers, and by expanding our codeshare with Aloha, we are providing both Aloha’s and United’s customers more opportunities to both earn miles and travel seamlessly across carriers."
"The beauty of this for Aloha is that we will benefit from the financial and worldwide marketing strength of one of the world’s largest airlines," said David A. Banmiller, Aloha’s president and chief executive officer. "Both airlines have a proven record of providing quality air transportation to Hawaii’s residents and visitors, who will reap the benefits as we work closely with United to market Hawaii’s popularity as a global tourism destination and its links to Asia and the Pacific."
United Airlines is the U.S. airline that offers the most service to the 50th state. United’s close ties to Hawaii began on May 1, 1947, when it inaugurated service to the Islands with a flight between San Francisco and Honolulu.
Aloha and United have been marketing partners since the early 1990s. Today, frequent flyers in the AlohaPass and United Mileage Plus programs can earn miles and redeem them for travel on either airline.
About Aloha
Founded as Trans-Pacific Airlines in 1946, Aloha Airlines has been in continuous service to Hawaii for more than 60 years. Aloha is one of Hawaii’s largest employers and provides more than 700 flights a week between the main Hawaii airports of Honolulu, Kahului, Lihue, Hilo and Kona. In addition, Aloha flies to the Islands from Oakland, Orange County, Sacramento, San Diego, Las Vegas and Reno. Aloha also is Hawaii’s largest provider of air cargo and contract aviation services. Aloha Airlines is a subsidiary of privately held Aloha Airgroup, Inc.
About United
United Airlines operates more than 3,600* flights a day on United, United Express and Ted to more than 210 U.S. domestic and international destinations from its hubs in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Denver, Chicago and Washington, D.C. With key global air rights in the Asia-Pacific region, Europe and Latin America, United is one of the largest international carriers based in the United States. United also is a founding member of Star Alliance, which provides connections for our customers to 855 destinations in 155 countries worldwide. United’s 55,000 employees reside in every U.S. state and in many countries around the world. News releases and other information about United can be found at the company’s Web site at united.com.
*Based on the flight schedule between Jan. 1, 2007 and Dec. 31, 2007. United Worldwide Press Office Days: 847.700.5538 Evenings/Weekends: 847.700.4088 Aloha Airlines, Inc. Stu Glauberman Director, Corporate Communications Phone: (808) 539-5947, Cell: (808) 722-7318 E-mail: sglauberman@AlohaAirlines.com
United Airlines
CONTACT: United Worldwide Press Office, Days, +1-847-700-5538,Evenings-Weekends, +1-847-700-4088; or Stu Glauberman, Director, CorporateCommunications of Aloha Airlines, Inc., phone, +1-808-539-5947, cell,+1-808-722-7318, sglauberman@AlohaAirlines.com
Web site: http://www.united.com/