As things return to normal, most of division’s workers and major clients are back

One day after getting a reprieve in federal bankruptcy court, Aloha Airlines’ cargo division went into full throttle, operating more than a dozen flights yesterday.

Aloha rehired nearly all of its 300 cargo employees as of yesterday morning, and many of its major customers — including Love’s Bakery, Armstrong Produce and McKesson Drug Co. — had come back to the airline for their cargo needs.

Mike Coffman, the former senior vice president of Aloha’s airline operations, was named president and chief executive officer of a new company that will eventually run Aloha Cargo, which will be renamed Aloha Air Cargo.

“I would categorize the reaction here as euphoric,” said Coffman, who will head Aeko Kula Inc., a division of Aloha Cargo’s buyer, Saltchuk Resources Inc. “It’s now at full speed.”

It’s been a wild week for Aloha Cargo, its employees and customers.

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(Source: Honolulu Advertiser)