Hawaiian Air traffic rises 5.5 percent

Hawaiian Airlines’ passenger traffic increased 5.5 percent in August from a year earlier as the carrier offered more seats and filled up a higher percentage of its planes.

The carrier transported 787,854 last month versus 746,646 in August 2009 while its load factor, or percentage of seats filled, rose 2.6 percentage points to 88 percent from 85.4 percent.

Available seat miles, or one seat transported one mile, increased 11 percent to 954.5 million from 860.1 million while revenue passenger miles jumped 14.3 percent to 840.1 million from 734.8 million.

Horizon reduces fuel surcharge

Horizon Lines Inc., the state’s second-largest ocean shipper, said yesterday it will lower its fuel surcharge for its mainland-Hawaii trade by 3.75 percentage points, to 21.75 percent from 25.50 percent, effective Sunday.

In addition, Horizon is also lowering its fuel surcharge between the mainland and Guam/Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands by 3.75 percentage points, to 23.25 percent from 27 percent. The moves match similar decreases announced Friday by Matson Navigation Co.

HP sues ex-CEO Hurd over new job

SAN FRANCISCO » Hewlett-Packard Co. is suing Mark Hurd, the chief executive it ousted last month, to stop him from taking a top job at rival Oracle Corp.

The lawsuit, filed yesterday in a California state court, came a day after Oracle hired Hurd as co-president to help lead the database software maker’s efforts to lure business away from HP. HP claims that Hurd won’t be able to perform his job at Oracle without spilling HP’s trade secrets and violating a confidentiality agreement.

This type of complaint isn’t unusual in the technology world, nor is the confidentiality agreement that Hurd had signed as part of a severance package from HP that could top $40 million.

Technology companies often require such agreements because workers walk out the door with valuable technical information.

But the stakes are higher with Hurd than with a rank-and-file employee, and the lawsuit might delay when Hurd could start his new job.

Boeing pares military aircraft unit

ST. LOUIS » Boeing Co. is slimming down its military aircraft business and cutting workers as the U.S. tightens defense spending and profit margins shrink.

Boeing’s military division makes the well-known Chinook transport helicopters, as well as the C-17 transport and the F/A-18 fighter-bomber.

The job cuts will start with 10 percent of the group’s executives. Boeing didn’t say how many more workers will lose jobs. It will consolidate six divisions of the business into four.

Rogue attendant to be evaluated

NEW YORK » The flight attendant accused of onboard antics that captured the nation’s attention when he told off a passenger and slid down the plane’s emergency chute with a beer will undergo a mental health evaluation with the aim of avoiding jail time in a possible plea deal.

Steven Slater, dressed in a trim blue suit, appeared in a Queens courtroom yesterday for a brief hearing on charges of criminal mischief, reckless endangerment and trespassing after last month’s meltdown aboard a JetBlue Airways Corp. flight from Pittsburgh that had just landed at Kennedy International Airport.

He was working Aug. 9 when, he said, an argument took place with a rude passenger. After landing at JFK, he went on the public address system, swore at a passenger who he claimed had treated him rudely, grabbed a beer and exited via an emergency chute, prosecutors said.

Burger King serves biggest menu change ever

NEW YORK » Burger King is introducing nine new breakfast items, including blueberry biscuits and pancake platters, and planning a major breakfast marketing blitz — all with an eye toward eating up some of McDonald’s morning business.

The chain said the move yesterday is its biggest introduction of new items at one time ever. It also includes iced coffee from Seattle’s Best.

Chief Marketing Officer Mike Kappitt said the company has dabbled in breakfast for years since Burger King introduced breakfast in 1979 but is now making it a major focus.

The rollout includes a marketing campaign featuring six new television ads highlighting the menu overhaul. The campaign will last about twice as long as most other Burger King campaigns.

The move comes just as Burger King receives an expected infusion of capital from a new owner. Last week the nation’s perennially No. 2 hamburger chain said it is selling itself to New York-based 3G Capital in a deal valued at $3.26 billion.

ON THE MOVE

» Coldwell Banker Pacific Properties has announced that Scott A. Bell and Jennifer Lee Busto have received the previews team members designation. Bell specializes in the Hawaii Kai, Kahala, Lanikai and Kailua areas. Busto specializes in Honolulu and East Oahu.

» RevoluSun has hired Brian Cunningham as a residential site analyst. He was previously a renewable energy specialist with Raytheon Polar Services Co. in Antarctica.

» PDK International, a global association of education professionals, has recognized Thanh Truc T. Nguyen as an emerging leader. Nguyen is a Curriculum Research and Development Group learning technology assistant specialist at the University of Hawaii at Manoa College of Education.

» Kawika J. Akana has passed the Chimney Safety Institute of America’s exam to recertify as a CSIA Certified Clothes Dryer Exhaust Technician. Akana is a Shakasweepers journeyman chimney sweep and venting technician.