BUSINESS BRIEFS
Judge OKs ATA liquidation plan
Advertiser Staff
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ATA Airlines Inc.'s plan to sell its defunct business to Southwest Airlines Co. was formally approved by a judge, allowing it to liquidate almost a year after high fuel costs drove the carrier into bankruptcy.
ATA flew 29 aircraft to destinations including Hawai'i and Mexico before it sought bankruptcy protection in April 2008 and ceased operations. Out of at least seven carriers that filed for bankruptcy last year, only Frontier Airlines Inc. and Sun Country Airlines are still operating. ATA's operations won't be revived.
The plan approved March 26 by a U.S. Bankruptcy judge in Indianapolis, where ATA is based, pays about 1.3 percent on unsecured claims totaling roughly $420 million and about 13.9 percent on secured claims of $365 million.
MARISCO CITED FOR POLLUTION
The Environmental Protection Agency has ordered Marisco Ltd. to comply with Clean Water Act requirements at its ship repair facilities at Kalaeloa Harbor.The EPA said the company failed to implement water pollution controls outlined in its discharge permit at two ship repair areas at the harbor.
In December, EPA inspectors found the company at its main facility failed to have proper storm water run-off controls and secondary containment for storm water run-off. Workers were seen washing down work areas, allowing concrete from cement mixing to overflow into the harbor. Marisco has not had a valid discharge permit for the facility since October 2007.
If the company fails to comply with the order, it could face fines of up to $37,500 per day per violation.
UNEMPLOYMENT OFFICE ADDS HOURS
The state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations is expanding the hours at its Kane'ohe office for filing claims for unemployment insurance.Starting Wednesday, the office in the Kaneohe Atrium Building on Kawa Street will be open five days a week instead of the current two. The staff will be available between 7:45 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
The office will provide unemployment insurance and job placement services at the location. Workforce development staff will also be on hand Mondays through Wednesday.
'SAFARI' INCLUDES HONOLULU STOP
Honolulu will be one of the stops on a $144,500 per-person, 21-day around-the-world trip aboard a Gulfstream IV private jet by Safari Air, a company that bills itself as the first environmentally friendly luxury private jet charter service.The "Around the World Grand East Africa Safari" is set to take flight Oct. 15, departing in Orange County. Its stops include Honolulu, Guam, Hong Kong, Cairo, Edinburgh and Quebec City, with the highlight being a two-week African Safari. The carrier said it will purchase carbon offsets for each passenger mile flown.
