Consumers and Aloha Airlines have some good news to savor. United Airlines was granted a minority equity stake in Aloha Airlines, which resulted in United having a seat on Aloha's board of directors. The two airlines also have agreed to engage in additional operational, marketing, and financial efforts. Consumers benefit from interchangeable air miles for use with both the AlohaPass and United Mileage Plus frequent-flier programs, as well as the predicted continuance of Hawaii inter-island fare wars, which has driven one-way tickets as low as $19. United and Aloha's codeshare partnership began in 1947, when United flew to Honolulu from San Francisco for the first time. In the early 1990s, the two carriers branched out into marketing together, allowing AlohaPass and United Mileage Plus members to earn miles and redeem travel on either airline. Aloha Airlines, Hawaii's second largest airline, emerged from bankruptcy protection last year.
