U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Robert Faris ruled that Gotbaum’s final pay could be more, less or the same, and the amount will be determined after the airline emerges from Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

Gotbaum asked for and received a salary of $50,000 a month and up to $10,000 per month in living, housing and automobile expenses. He also will have the right to request a "success fee," with the sum to be set once the bankruptcy proceedings are completed.

Gotbaum adjusted his original salary proposal amounting to $840,000 after it was opposed by the Air Line Pilots Association; the Association for Flight Attendants; Hawaiian Holdings Inc., the parent company of Hawaiian Airlines; and some members of the creditors committee.

The pilots picketing outside the courthouse before today’s hearing maintained Gotbaum’s salary request was still too expensive.

The latest proposal had the backing of the Office of U.S. Trustee, which approved Gotbaum’s new compensation proposal before it was filed in bankruptcy court. Hawaiian’s creditors committee also filed a motion in court approving the lower salary.

Hawaiian filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in March. Gotbaum was appointed trustee in July after businessman John Monahan resigned after three weeks on the job.

Gotbaum said he would like to lead Hawaiian out of bankruptcy protection by Labor Day and plans to submit his business plan to the creditors committee and unions next week.

The plan may result in changes to the airline’s routes, airport costs, labor contracts and airplane fleet, Gotbaum said. He expects to submit the airline’s reorganization plan in June.

Before being appointed as trustee, Gotbaum was an investment banker and the CEO of the September 11th Fund, which provided more than $360 million in grants to help victims of the terrorist attacks.