Business Briefs

Low-cost airline to fly here from Australia

Jetstar, the low-cost Australian airline affiliated with Qantas, said it will begin regular, nonstop service between Brisbane and Honolulu on Dec. 15.

The airline said it will operate the flight up to three times a week during the peak season with two weekly flights in off-peak months. Jetstar plans to use an Airbus A330 on the route.

Jetstar Australia and New Zealand CEO David Hall said, "Jetstar has been offering long-haul low fares between Sydney and Hawaii since 2006 and last year we introduced nonstop services to Honolulu from Melbourne.

"Hawaii is one of the most popular destinations on our network and we’re delighted to be giving more Aussies the chance to experience this part of the world."

State Obamacare site signs up 7,861

Hawaii’s health insurance exchange signed up 7,861 individuals and employees in Obamacare coverage as of the deadline to enroll Monday.

On Wednesday, the Hawaii Health Connector, the nonprofit assigned to enroll people in coverage under President Barack Obama’s Affordable Care Act, released the exact count of how many people had enrolled in Hawaii between Oct. 15 and the end of open enrollment on Monday.

The Connector has extended the deadline for many of the 24,176 applicants who started but didn’t complete applications and 1,280 others who filled out online "wait in line" forms attesting that they tried their best to enroll, but couldn’t do to because of special circumstances.

From October to February, the state Medicaid program enrolled more than 28,800 people into the government insurance program for low-income residents.

The next time people can sign up for coverage on the Connector is Nov. 15.

Firms hired 191,000 in March, ADP says

WASHINGTON » A private survey shows that U.S. companies increased hiring at a healthy pace last month, suggesting that the job market is recovering from a brutal winter.

Payroll processer ADP says private employers added 191,000 jobs in March. Hiring was healthy across most industries and businesses of different sizes.

The numbers suggest that the government’s jobs report for March, to be released Friday, will show stronger hiring.

The ADP numbers cover only private businesses and often diverge from the government’s more comprehensive report.

Chrysler recalls SUVs for brake problem

DETROIT » Chrysler is recalling nearly 870,000 SUVs because corrosion may make the vehicles’ brakes harder to use.

Jeep Grand Cherokee and Dodge Durango SUVs from the 2011 through 2014 model years are involved.

Chrysler says crimp joints in the brake boosters can corrode if they’re exposed to water. If the water freezes, the boosters won’t aid braking as they usually do.

The company knows of one accident, but no injuries, due to the defect.

Dealers will install a shield to protect the boosters for free and replace boosters that aren’t working properly.

Amazon Fire TV streams online content

NEW YORK » Amazon wants to make its way into living rooms with Amazon Fire TV, a new set-top box that allows streaming of online video, music and other content to televisions.

The company says the $99 device has better speed, performance and search functions than other options such as Apple TV and Google Chromecast. But Amazon is coming late to the game, and it remains to be seen whether the company is offering enough of an advantage to lure customers away from their current streaming methods.

The device, about the size of a CD case, runs Google’s Android operating system and offers Netflix, Hulu and other streaming channels in addition to Amazon Prime instant video.

ON THE MOVE

AgriLogic Insurance Services has hired Weston Yap as manager, account executive in the sales and risk consulting department. Yap provides revenue protection programs and agriculture production to Hawaii’s food growers and insurance agents who administer crop insurance.

Cheryl Hetherington will be awarded with the 32nd Laura N. Dowsett Award at the Junior League of Honolulu’s 90th anniversary celebration April 12 at the Sheraton Waikiki. Hetherington practiced law as a solo practitioner from 1979 to 1994 and served five years with the hearings committee of the state Office of Disciplinary Counsel. She also is a civic leader and a longtime Junior League of Honolulu member.

McDonald’s Restaurants of Hawaii is donating more than $45,000 to school robotics teams at this year’s FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) robotics regional competition. The money will be divided among the 29 competing robotics team in the state. Five high schools (Waialua, McKinley, Kamehameha, Maui and Kealakehe) were given an additional $1,000 each, which will go toward attending the world championship in St. Louis later this month.