Since filing for bankruptcy on December 30th last year, the future of Aloha Airlines has been in question. Well, it looks like a billionaire and a football star may be the saviors of this airline.

The USA Today reports:

A federal bankruptcy judge has approved Aloha Airlines’ plan to be bought out by California billionaire Ron Burkle and former pro football star Willie Gault.

But U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Robert Faris also left room for a group led by former Hawaiian Airlines Chief Executive Bruce Nobles to submit a competing bid.

Last week, Aloha said two California investment companies headed by supermarket chain owner Burkle and Gault would invest more than $100 million in the airline.

The deal would allow Burkle’s Yucaipa Cos. LLC and Gault’s Aloha Aviation Investment Group LLC to acquire a majority stake in the airline and enable Aloha to emerge from bankruptcy by the end of the year.

However, private-equity firm Perseus LLC, teaming with Nobles, proposed to Faris that it be allowed to buy Aloha’s assets out of bankruptcy for $120 million rather than take the carrier through reorganization.

Under the Perseus proposal, Nobles would become the chief executive officer and replace Aloha’s CEO, David Banmiller.

 

In a USA Today article due to the rising cost of fuel, financially strapped airlines and steady consumer demand translates to higher airfares this holiday season. For those who procrastinate or look for the last minute bargain flights may be on the outside looking in.

The trend for leisure fares has been upward all summer (averaging 16% more than a year ago), and it’s continuing through the fall,” says Bob Harrell of New York-based Harrell Associates, which tracks airline pricing.

Since both Christmas and New Year’s Day fall on a weekend this year, travel will probably be compressed over a shorter time frame, making deals less likely. And while airlines typically trumpet deep discounts for travel on Thanksgiving or Christmas day, availability is highly restricted, notes Harrell.

Those in the industry state that popular destinations like Hawaii, Florida and the Caribbean could be paying double of what the fares cost today.

Vacationers with more time — and with a hankering for such popular holiday destinations as Hawaii, Florida and the Caribbean — “are probably going to be paying double or triple the lowest sale fare,” says Tom Parsons of Bestfares.com.

Get a benchmark air fares through such sources as
FareReport.com
Cheapflights.com
Expedia.com’s Fare Compare
Travelocity.com
CheapSeats.com
Don’t forget to contact low-cost carriers like Southwest

For the full story and tips for scoring the best holiday airfare

NAWILILI, Hawaii (Reuters) — For international set-jetters Hawaii is the perfect location.

“Set Jetting” has become an extremely popular form of travel as it gives people the opportunity the combine fantasy with reality.

It gives them a chance to mix reality with illusion as they tour sites made famous in a string of movie classics — as well as such forgettable stinkers as “She Gods of Shark Reef.”

As the tourist industry enjoys a boom in bookings inspired by movie and TV locations — a phenomenon known as “set-jetting” — Hawaii is celluloid nirvana for besotted film fans.

Indiana Jones racing for cover, dinosaurs rampaging in Jurassic Park, Elvis Presley crooning to his bride — the Hawaiian island of Kauai has offered the ultimate exotic backdrop in more than 70 Hollywood movies.

Hawaii offers so many background settings to movies that allows for individuals to relay the scenes in their minds while enjoying the simply beautiful island.

With its tropical forests, volcanic landscapes, picture-postcard beaches and idyllic waterfalls, Kauai represents just about anywhere as an all-purpose cinematic backdrop.

The island stood in for Congo in “Outbreak”, for Australia in “The Thorn Birds”, for the Caribbean in “The Man With The Golden Gun” and Vietnam in “Uncommon Valor”.

The hit TV series “Lost” was shot on the Hawaiian island of Oahu and the state pulled in a record $161 million in production revenue last year, nearly twice 2003’s $84 million.