BUSINESS BRIEFS
Qantas trims fuel surcharge by $10
Advertiser Staff
Qantas said it is lowering its fuel surcharges on flights from Australia to Hawai'i because of recent declines in jet fuel prices.
The airline cut the one-way surcharge to $65 from $75 for bookings made beginning today. It is the second time Qantas cut its fuel surcharge in three months.
The cut is part of a fuel surcharge reduction on all Qantas international and domestic routes.
Even with fuel prices declining, Qantas' fuel bill this year will still be about $270 million more this year than in 2007, said John Borghetti, executive general manager of Qantas.
SOPOGY TO HELP BUILD SOLAR PLANT
Honolulu-based Sopogy Inc. said it has entered an agreement with two European companies to develop its biggest project yet, a 50 megawatt solar power plant to be built in Toledo, Spain.
Under the agreement with Spain's Inypsa Informes y Proyectos S.A. and Omniwatt, a German-based solar financier, the plant would be developed in the next two years using Sopogy's solar power system. The design captures solar energy in a trough covered in reflective mirrors, focusing heat on fluid in a pipe that traverses the collector. The heated fluid can be used to power electrical generators.
Sopogy has operated a 1 megawatt installation at Keahole on the Big Island and plans to announce other projects in the next two months.
S&P RATES AIRPORT BONDS POSITIVE
Standard & Poor's Ratings Services said it raised its rating outlook to positive for the state of Hawai'i's outstanding revenue bonds that were issued for the airport system.
The outlook change was prompted by new airline lease agreements that changed the landing fees from a fixed rate to a calculated rate using a cost recovery methodology.
Standard & Poor's noted the airports' plans call for $2.1 billion of projects including replacement and reconfiguration of gates, enhanced security checkpoints, expansion of commuter facilities and parking improvements.
BAE WINS $200M ARMY CONTRACT
BAE Systems' Technology Solutions & Services was awarded a $200 million contract to provide a wide range of logistical support and services to Army facilities on O'ahu and the Big Island.
The contract was awarded after the Government Accountability Office dismissed a protest from a competing bidder, according to a news release from BAE.
BAE Systems will provide support for project management, supply and services, equipment maintenance for Army operations at Schofield Barracks in Central O'ahu and the Pohakuloa Training Area on the Big Island.
FIRST HAWAIIAN BANK AWARDS GRANTS
The First Hawaiian Bank Foundation, the charitable arm of First Hawaiian Bank, has awarded a $25,000 grant over three years to the Crown Prince Akihito Scholarship Foundation.
The grant will support tuition fees for American and Japanese graduate students looking to study abroad, according to Don Horner, First Hawaiian Bank's president and chief executive officer.
The First Hawaiian Bank Foundation also recently awarded $5,000 to Kokua Kalihi Valley to support the publication of the booklet, "Housing Operations for Seniors on Oahu — 2008"; and $5,000 to support Keiki Kokua's Foster Parent Exchange program.
