Air Canada rouge makes Hawaii debut

Air Canada’s leisure subsidiary, Air Canada rouge, brought its first planeload of visitors from Vancouver, British Columbia, to Hono­lulu on Friday.

Parent company Air Canada announced earlier this year that it would convert nonstop flights from Vancouver — serving both Hono­lulu and Kahu­lui — to daily Air Canada rouge Boeing 767-300 ER service effective Friday and Dec. 1, respectively. These two routes will operate daily during the peak winter months from November through April.

A Toronto-to-Hono­lulu route also will launch in December and operate twice weekly, said Ronald Williams, interim president and CEO of the Hawaii Tourism Authority.

"This new route for Hawaii will provide access from Canada’s third-largest market area," Williams said. "These three routes are anticipated to generate an estimated $57 million in visitor expenditures, or $6 million in tax revenue for the state, during the winter period."

Williams said by next year HTA hopes to reach a record 11.1 million air seats.

Bankoh, Hawaiian Airlines offer Apple Pay

Hawaiian Airlines and Bank of Hawaii said they are integrating the Hawaiian Airlines Bank of Hawaii World Elite MasterCard to give customers access to Apple Pay.

In participating stores, Apple Pay will work with iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. When paying for goods and services within apps, Apple Pay is compatible with iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 3.

"We are thrilled to be able to offer our customers the latest technology for mobile payments," said Tony DeSanctis, Bank of Hawaii’s senior vice president and credit card manager. "Apple Pay adds an extra layer of convenience and security to enhance the way our customers make payments."

Customers can use Apple Pay in many stores that accept contactless payments and through participating apps. Bank of Hawaii is also looking to offer Apple Pay for its other debit and credit cards in the near future.

Event on climate change offered Sunday

Windward Coalition, an organization formed by residents of Windward Oahu, will host a public event about climate change Sunday at Kai­lua Elementary School.

Several industry experts will speak at the Windward Climate Change Summit, leading panel discussions about climate change, its impact on Hawaii and the next steps to counter its effects in the state and globally at the event, scheduled from 3 to 5 p.m.

Some of the speakers include RevoluSun Chief Operating Officer Colin Yost; Stuart Scott, deputy secretary of the International Ecological Safety Collaborative Organization; Blue Planet Director Jeff Miku­lina; Camilo Mora and Dolan Eversole of the University of Hawaii; and Gerald Marten, director of the EcoTipping Points Project.

Aereo files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy

NEW YORK » Online streaming service Aereo has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, saying an unfavorable ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court was too difficult to overcome. The Internet startup made waves earlier this year by letting people re­cord and live-stream broadcast TV online.

The Supreme Court ruled in June that Aereo operates like a cable TV company. As a result, the court said the service violates copyright law unless Aereo pays broadcasters licensing fees for offering TV station programs to customers’ tablets, phones and other gadgets.

Jobless rates fall in two-thirds of states

WASHINGTON » Unemployment rates fell in 34 U.S. states in October, a sign that steady hiring this year has been broadly dispersed through most of the country.

The Labor Department said Friday that unemployment rates rose in just five states, the fewest since April. Rates were unchanged in 11 states. Hawaii’s jobless rate, announced Thursday, fell to 4.1 percent after declining for the third straight month.

Steady economic growth has prompted more companies to add jobs, though the additional hiring hasn’t yet boosted wages. Nationwide, employers added 214,000 jobs in October, the ninth straight month of gains above 200,000. That’s the longest such stretch since 1995. The U.S. unemployment rate stood at 5.8 percent, a six-year low.

Japan orders air bag maker to hold probe

TOKYO » Japan’s transport ministry said Friday it has ordered air bag maker Takata to conduct an internal investigation after cases of its air bags exploding triggered safety concerns in the United States and other countries.

The ministry also ordered Takata and Japa­nese automakers to study whether additional recalls are needed in Japan following a U.S. decision to expand recalls nationwide from an earlier measure limited to high-humidity zones. Takata air bags can inflate with excessive force, sending metal shrapnel toward the driver and passengers. The problems have been blamed for at least six deaths and dozens of injuries. Millions of cars have been recalled worldwide.

ON THE MOVE

Bank of Hawaii has promoted: 

» Jason D’Olier to senior vice president and business planning and strategy manager in the controllers department. He previously was a management associate for global consumer group and a business development officer for global commercial banking at Citigroup.

» Ryson I. Matsumura to senior vice president and Metro West Oahu regional manager of the Branch Division. Matsu­mura joined BOH in 2005 and held various positions at the bank, including bank associate in management training program, division sales and service manager, and West Oahu regional manager.

» Jeffrey Yamamoto to senior vice president in the corporate compliance department. He joined BOH in 1997 and served in various positions, including senior auditor, corporate compliance officer and audit consultant.

SHIP AHOY!

Today’s ship arrivals and departures:

HONOLULU HARBOR