Post #370585 by VampiressRN on Mon, Mar 31, 2008 9:46 PM

3/31/08-SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Aloha Airlines said it will cease all passenger service, including flights to and from Sacramento.

The airline is throwing in the towel, a victim of stiff competition and rising fuel prices.

Flights left the mainland for the islands on Monday, but no flights were traveling from Hawaii to the mainland.

Two flights scheduled to come from Hawaii to Sacramento were cancelled. Travelers seeking to get home from Hawaii are being asked to call United.

For customers flying on a United Airlines ticket, United will rebook them on an alternate flight, where space is available, at no additional charge.

United is offering discounted one-way fares through April for customers traveling on an Aloha ticket. The carrier will also refund frequent flier miles at no charge if customers have an award ticket on Aloha Airlines.

The last Aloha flight from Sacramento departed shortly before noon.

Aloha filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on March 20.

Aloha President David Banmiller said the airline "simply ran out of time to find a qualified buyer or secure continued financing for our passenger business."

Aloha has suffered since Phoenix-based Mesa Air Group launched a new inter-island carrier called go! airlines in 2006, triggering a local airfare war.

Banmiller said Aloha was a victim of "unfair competition."

The airline served Hawaii for more than 60 years.