JAL snubs Big Isle plea

Hawaii County Mayor Billy Kenoi says an effort to keep Japan Airlines flying to the Big Island has failed. JAL announced earlier this year that it would end direct flights from Tokyo’s Narita International Airport to Kona International Airport. Kenoi said Thursday that JAL executives have confirmed the airline will suspend the flights Oct. 29. The mayor says he and other officials in Hawaii worked hard to convince JAL to reconsider its decision.

Intel warns results will miss forecasts

NEW YORK » Chip maker Intel Corp. is cutting its sales forecast for the quarter, adding fresh evidence that a rickety economy is putting a damper on the back-to-school shopping season.

Intel is the world’s biggest provider of microprocessors for PCs and a bellwether for the broader technology industry.

The company said yesterday it is seeing weaker-than-expected demand for PCs in the U.S. and Europe. The warning comes a month after Intel reported its biggest quarterly profit in a decade. But those results were fueled by a rebound in technology spending at corporations, many of which held off replacing older computers during the recession.

Boeing again delays delivery of 787

NEW YORK » Boeing Co. postponed the delivery of its first 787 airliner to the middle of the first quarter of 2011, adding to a string of delays that has put it more than two years past its originally scheduled debut. The latest delay is the result of engine delivery problems, Boeing said yesterday.

USA Today to cut 130 amid overhaul

SAN FRANCISCO » USA Today, the nation’s second-largest newspaper, is making the most dramatic overhaul of its staff in its 28-year history as it de-emphasizes its print edition and ramps up its effort to reach more readers and advertisers on mobile devices.

The makeover will result in about 130 layoffs this fall, USA Today Publisher Dave Hunke said. That translates into a 9 percent reduction in USA Today’s work force of 1,500 employees. Hunke didn’t specify which departments would be hardest hit. The management shake-up affects both the newspaper’s business operations and newsroom.

USA Today is owned by Gannett Co., former owner of the now-defunct Honolulu Advertiser.

On the Move

» Bella Pietra has hired Bonnie Lee as human resources manager. She has 10 years of management experience and was previously the human resources manager at Haseko.

» Aqua Hotels and Resorts has announced the following appointments:
— Jessica Rayneri as Internet marketing manager. She was previously marketing manager for Hotel Monteleone in New Orleans.
— Nick Morley as revenue analyst. He was previously a purchasing officer and IT support and development at Butterworth Laboratories.

» Alaka’i Mechanical has promoted the following executive staff:
— Clark "Skip" Morgan to chairman and chief executive officer from president and chief executive officer. He has been with the company for more than 15 years and has four decades of experience in the construction industry.
— Ralph Inouye to president from senior vice president. He has more than 35 years of construction industry experience as an estimator and project manager.
— Ryan Ando to vice president from senior project manager. He has more than 20 years of experience as a project manager in the construction industry, and 14 of them have been with Alaka’i Mechanical.