Hawaiian Air traffic up 5.9 percent in July

Hawaiian Airlines’ passenger traffic rose 5.9 percent in July as it filled a greater percentage of its seats and flew more routes than a year ago.

The state’s largest carrier transported 936,297 people during the month compared with 883,891 in July 2012. Its load factor, or percentage of seats filled, edged up 0.2 percentage points to 84 percent from 83.8 percent.

Available seat miles, or one seat transported one mile, jumped 11.3 percent to 1.5 million from 1.4 million while revenue passenger miles, or one paying passenger transported one mile, climbed 11.5 percent to 1.3 million from 1.2 million.

Hawaii Gas warns customers about scam

Hawaii Gas is warning its residential customers about a scam involving an individual impersonating a company employee in an attempt to gain access to their property.

The company reported at least one instance in East Hono­lulu in which a customer was approached by a person wearing blue coveralls who arrived in an unmarked white truck, a Hawaii Gas spokes­­man said in a news release. The impersonator claimed to be from a company called Hawaii Star Energy hired by Hawaii Gas. The person then requested access to the property.

Hawaii Star Energy is not an actual company, and Hawaii Gas does not hire third parties to read meters, according to the news release. The spokes­man said Hawaii Gas wanted to emphasize to its customers that all company employees wear a Hawaii Gas patch on their coveralls and carry a Hawaii Gas identification badge. Hawaii Gas encourages its customers to call customer service at 535-5933 if they suspect suspicious activity or have any questions.

Facebook contest touts Hawaiian Host design

Hawaiian Host Inc. has unveiled new packaging for its AlohaMacs milk chocolate- and dark chocolate-covered macadamia nuts and also has launched a Facebook contest to promote the new packaging. The new boxes feature pictures of professional hula dancer Nicole Kawehi Navarro of Kapolei, who was selected to be brand ambassador through a Facebook contest earlier this year.

The Great AlohaMacs Facebook Photo Contest, now underway, invites contestants to take a photo with an AlohaMacs product and caption it with wording best describing what makes them smile.

Photos must be submitted via the Hawaiian Host Facebook page. Weekly winners will receive a $50 AlohaMacs gift basket, while the grand prize is three cases of AlohaMacs, valued at $300. The contest runs through Sept. 29.

All-coach JetBlue adds business class

NEW YORK » JetBlue, known for shuttling vacationers from Northeastern cities to the warmth of Florida and the Caribbean, is making a play for corporate road warriors.

Starting next year, the all-coach airline plans to offer 16 lie-flat seats on flights between New York and Los Angeles and San Francisco. It’s the first time the egalitarian carrier will have a second class of service.

The transcontinental routes are the most profitable and highly contested domestic markets for airlines. Business-class tickets frequently sell for $4,000 round trip. American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines are all putting lie-flat beds in their premium cabins on those routes. Virgin America, which also flies from coast to coast, has a traditional first-class cabin with larger seats.

JetBlue Airways Corp. said the seats will debut on its new Airbus A321 planes in the second quarter of 2014. The planes will have 16 seats in the front cabin and 143 in the back. Four of the 16 business-class seats will have doors and are being marketed by JetBlue as "private suites" similar to what Dubai-based Emirates Airway and Singapore Airlines offer their top customers.

GM takes 12.5 percent off Volt price

DETROIT » General Motors is knocking 12.5 percent off the Chevrolet Volt’s sticker price as it tries to better compete with electric car rivals. The automaker says the 2014 Volt now will start at $34,995 including shipping — $5,000 less than the current model. The new model is scheduled to reach showrooms late this summer.

GM and other automakers have been forced to cut electric car prices or offer discounted leases in order to move them off dealer lots. Relatively stable gasoline prices, more efficient gasoline engines and increased competition from new models have tamped down electric car prices.

GM says including a $7,500 federal tax credit, the Volt could cost as little as $27,495.

ON THE MOVE

Hawaii Energy Connection has hired:

 » Tracy Keli‘i­ho‘omalu as director of first impressions. She previously worked at Worldwide Flight Services.

» Kyle Funasaki to its marketing department. He was at KHON-TV as an associate marketing director.

» Beverly Dofredo as an installation administrator.

» Rick Bishop as a commercial construction manager. He was project superintendent on electrical and solar photovoltaic at Helix Electric.