Business Briefs

Hawaiian Air expands service to Vegas, L.A.

Hawaiian Airlines is adding two more weekly flights to its Honolulu-Las Vegas service and extending its seasonal Maui-Los Angeles flights for an additional two months.

The airline will boost Las Vegas service starting Aug. 21 to five from three days weekly on one of its routes. In addition to that increase, Hawaiian offers two daily flights between Honolulu and Las Vegas. The extra flights will boost the number of Honolulu-Las Vegas flights to 19 a week.

Hawaiian, which previously announced its seasonal Maui-Los Angeles service would operate daily from June 21 through Aug. 19, said Thursday it will extend that service by flying three days a week from Aug. 31 through Oct. 31.

Nearly 8,000 new air seats are being added to Maui during the extended travel period.

BBB Torch Award winners revealed

Hawaii’s Better Business Bureau has named Alaka’i Mechanical Corp., Hawaii Human Resources, Schweitzer Consulting LLC and the Institute of Human Services as recipients of the 2012 BBB Torch Awards.

The BBB Torch Awards recognize the importance of corporate conscience and responsibility in fulfilling an organization’s obligation to the marketplace.

Alaka’i Mechanical Corp. won the large-business category. Other finalists were Farmers Insurance and New York Life Insurance Co. Hawaii Human Resources won in the medium-business category. Other finalists were Kahala Associates, PacRim Marketing Group Inc. and RevoluSun. Schweitzer Consulting LLC won the small-business category. Other finalists were Hi Employment and Renewable Energy Technologies LLC. Institute of Human Services won the public-charity category. Other finalists were Hospice Hawaii and People Attentive to Children.

Jackie Choy and Theresa Kong Kee of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs received the BBB Ka Mea o Kako’o award, which honors individuals who have achieved significant marketplace trust by their demonstrated commitment to consumer advocacy, protection or education.

Hawker Beechcraft files for bankruptcy

WICHITA, Kan. » Hawker Beechcraft filed for bankruptcy protection Thursday in the latest blow to Wichita’s beleaguered aircraft industry, with the company saying it had reached an agreement with many creditors on a plan to restructure its debt. The company said more than two-thirds of its biggest secured lenders and bondholders have agreed to the plan, which calls for about $2.5 billion in debt and almost $125 million in annual cash interest expenses to be eliminated.

The company also said it had obtained a commitment for $400 million in financing that will enable it to continue paying employees, vendors and others. Hawker Beechcraft employs 7,400 people, with 4,700 working at its Wichita facility.

Hawker Beechcraft has struggled with tepid demand for its military planes and business jets over the past few years.

FAA seeks to fine Alaska, Horizon airlines

WASHINGTON » Federal officials are seeking $655,125 in fines against Alaska Airlines and its Horizon Air affiliate for alleged safety violations, including failing to inspect a plane for cracks.

The Federal Aviation Administration said Thursday that Horizon operated a Bombardier Dash-8-400 aircraft on 45 flights while it failed to follow a safety order to check for cracked or corroded fittings on the engine housing.

A 2011 order required airlines to inspect the fittings every 300 hours of flight time and make repairs as needed. The FAA said Horizon used the plane on at least 45 passenger flights in March 2011 after it had passed the 300-hour mark. The FAA proposed a civil penalty of $445,125 against Horizon.

The FAA also said it would seek a $210,000 civil penalty against Alaska Airlines, charging that the airline failed to properly tag turned-off equipment before making repairs to Boeing 737 jets. It said the violations of worker-safety rules occurred 10 times in 2010 and 2011. Both airlines are owned by Seattle-based Alaska Air Group Inc.

Freddie Mac asks $19M in aid after loss

WASHINGTON » Government-controlled mortgage giant Freddie Mac is requesting $19 million in additional federal aid after posting a loss in the first quarter of this year.

The requested amount is less than the $146 million that Freddie received from the government for the fourth quarter of 2011. The company received $7.6 billion for all of 2011 and $13 billion for all of 2010. Freddie Mac said Thursday its loss attributable to common stockholders was $1.2 billion compared with a loss of $929 million a year earlier.

John Kearns

ON THE MOVE

Hawaii Pacific University has announced John Kearns, vice president of academic affairs, is stepping down to return to the faculty. Andrew Brittain, natural and computational sciences dean, will succeed Kearns.

Vickie Omura has been named director of sales and marketing at Moana Surfrider, a Westin Resort & Spa. She was previously director of sales and marketing at the Sheraton Princess Kaiulani.

Marathon Group and its operating company, BEI Hawaii, have promoted:

Vickie Omura

» James "Jim" Mistysyn to executive vice president of distribution from senior vice president of distribution.

» Eli Pablo to vice president of distribution from director of sales, distribution.

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs awarded $40,000 to the American Lung Association in Hawaii for its Maopopo Oli Hano program. Maopopo Oli Hano is a three-part asthma education program designed for Native Hawaiians.