A federal judge today invalidated the sale of Aloha Airlines' brand and logo because of the way the sale was handled.

U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Lloyd King said the sale of the defunct carrier's trade name to Aloha's former owner, Yucaipa Companies, was invalid because the sale was not publicly held as required by law.

Yucaipa was the high bidder for Aloha's brand name in an auction held Dec. 2. Yucaipa, in turn, had reached a licensing agreement to let the parent of go!, Phoenix-based Mesa Air Group, use the Aloha name and logo in exchange for a minimum of $6 million.