Business briefs

Advertiser Staff

More jobless benefits offered

State labor officials yesterday began mailing notices to some 8,000 unemployed workers from airline and related industries to inform them that they may be eligible for an extra 39 weeks of unemployment benefits.

The extra benefits come from federal legislation aimed at helping the battered airline industry.

Workers who have exhausted their federally financed Temporary Extended Unemployment Compensation may be eligible for the extended benefits.

For more information, call 643-5555 or (877) 215-5793 outside Hawai'i.

Start-up airline's plans in review

A start-up airline has announced that it plans to begin flying between Los Angeles and Honolulu with one-way fares starting at $89, but a federal transportation official said yesterday that the carrier's plans remain under review.

Mainline Airways LLC, based in Wellesley, Mass., plans to establish "a low-fare market where one does not already exist," according to its Web site. Mainline intends to test its strategy on a pilot route of daily service between Los Angeles and Ho-nolulu starting July 3.

A spokesman for the U.S. Department of Transportation said the agency is aware of Mainline's plans "and it's under review."