The airlines applied to the federal Air Transportation Stabilization Board for a five-year, $45 million loan – $40.5 million of which would be guaranteed.

The airline filed its application late yesterday, according to Betsy Holahan, a spokeswoman for the board, the federal entity charged with reviewing and deciding on the applications.

As of this morning, Aloha was one of 13 airlines to ask for federal assistance under the $10 billion loan guarantee program, which was approved last fall by Congress 10 days after the Sept. 11 attacks. The deadline for applications is today.

The program was designed to provide assistance ­ in the form of federal backing for commercial loans ­ to airlines affected by the drastic drop in business that followed the attacks. Analysts say the board has been proceeding with caution in its review of the applications, apparently to protect the federal government from undue exposure to financial risk in its support of the troubled industry.

Thus far, only America West has won approval from the board, in the form of a $380 million loan guarantee on $445 million in commercial loans. And that approval was conditional, the board said.

The three-member board rejected the applications of two other carriers, Vanguard Airlines and Frontier Flying Service.

Among the carriers that applied are industry giants United Airlines and US Airways Group Inc. They have been getting lobbying help from lawmakers and labor leaders to win $2.8 billion in government loan guarantees.

Rep. William Lipinski, senior Democrat on the House aviation subcommittee, plans to urge "full, fair" consideration of United's request for a $1.8 billion loan guarantee, Lipinski spokesman Michael McLaughlin said. The UAL Corp. unit, the world's second-biggest carrier, is based in the congressman's hometown of Chicago.

"We'll do everything," said Rep. Sue Myrick, a North Carolina Republican who has 7,000 US Airways employees in her district. "We'll go to the mat."

US Airways is seeking government backing for loans to avoid bankruptcy while United needs access to affordable credit to pay operating costs.

International Association of Machinists leaders urged the White House to support United and the $900 million guarantee sought by US Airways. Sen. Hillary Clinton, a New York Democrat, asked the board "to quickly approve" the loan for US Airways, the fourth-biggest carrier at New York's LaGuardia Airport.

United Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Jack Creighton met with Congress members earlier this week to give a "general education" on the need for the loans, said spokeswoman Susana Leyva. US Airways Chief Executive Officer David Siegel has also spoken with political leaders, spokesman David Castelveter said.

US Airways and UAL are seeking concessions from pilots, mechanics and other employees as part of their loan applications.

UAL shares rose 48 cents to $11.33 in midafternoon trading, and the stock has fallen 63 percent since Sept. 10. US Airways slid 7 cents to $3.65, and declined 69 percent since Sept. 10.

The Machinists leaders met with President Bush's special assistant for economic policy, Carlos Bonilla, yesterday to ask for support, said group spokesman Joe Tiberi.

Denver-based Frontier Airlines Inc., which is seeking a $59.5 million guarantee for a $70 million line of credit, and World Airways Inc. of Peachtree City, Ga., became the latest carriers to apply before today's deadline expires at 5 p.m. Washington time, Holahan said.

The board isn't influenced by the lobbying and tries to "walk a fine line between helping the air carriers that need help and protecting the interests of taxpayers," Holahan said. The lobbying for airlines is nothing new, even in the short history of the board. Arizona Sens. John McCain and Jon Kyl, both Republicans, wrote the White House budget office Oct. 3 out of concern that airlines with smaller cash balances and less collateral would be denied guarantees.

The board may take weeks to decide on the latest applications.