State tries to help stranded fliers

State tourism officials are trying to arrange charter flights for 9,000 passengers stranded by the sudden closure of ATA Airlines.

Hawaii Tourism Authority President Rex Johnson said in Honolulu that officials were talking to Hawaiian Airlines and other carriers about adding flights to and from Hawaii. Tourism officials said the remaining airlines that connect Hawaii to the mainland are already operating at full capacity due to the earlier shutdown of Aloha Airlines’ passenger service.

Johnson said the tourism agency would provide some money for the flights from a $5-million emergency fund the Legislature authorized last year. He said officials would also try to accommodate any remaining stranded Aloha Airlines’ passengers on the mainland charter flights.