PILOTS of Aloha Airlines have resumed its air cargo operations despite not being paid for weeks.
The 30 pilots are said to be flying without knowing who is responsible for paying their salaries, after Seattle-based Saltchuk bought Aloha's air cargo operations, however, it does not officially become the new owner until the case is wrapped up by the US bankruptcy court, reports local US TV station KHNL.
It said the pilots last pay cheque was on April 15, "Whether we get hired or not, we know we're preserving the jobs for somebody who is going to get hired," said Guy Croydon, who has to apply to the new company to keep his job. "So we're compelled to do it even though we don't know if we're going to get paid or not," he was cited as saying.
Saltchuk executives have previously stated that once the deal is finalised to acquire Aloha's cargo division which handles 85 per cent of Hawaii's interisland air cargo, principal lender GMAC Commercial Finance LLC will release funds to pay the pilots for the hours they have worked. The deal is expected to close on the May 14.
A CNN Money report cited GMAC attorney Douglas Lipke as saying the funds will come from proceeds of the sale. Saltchuk is said to be planning to keep the "Aloha Air Cargo" name.
It added that the Air Line Pilots Association was in contract negotiations with Saltchuk, which is planning to hire 35 to 40 of Aloha's pilots.
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