Aloha Airlines flights No. 1 in load factor

Everything is clicking just right for Aloha Airlines, which launched service between Reno and Orange County about eight months ago.

In February, the load factor the percentage of seats filled for Aloha Airlines on flights from Reno stood at 85.6 percent.

That's the highest percentage of any of the 10 scheduled carriers serving Reno-Tahoe International Airport, and it marks the first time that Aloha nailed down the top position.

And to put the number in perspective, the load factor for airlines nationwide during the month was 69.2 percent nearly 16 percent behind the Aloha figure from Reno.

Stu Glauberman, a spokesman for the Honolulu-based airline, said three factors are at work:

* The 6:55 a.m.

departure of the airline's daily flight to Orange County combined with a late-evening flight from Orange County to Reno has proven popular with business travelers in northern Nevada.

* Hawaii and particularly Honolulu remain popular vacation destinations for northern Nevada residents.

After stopping at Orange County, the flight from Reno continues to Honolulu.

Between business and vacation travelers, 3,078 passengers got on board an Aloha flight from Reno during February.

* Hawaiian residents already are familiar with Lake Tahoe and Reno as vacation spots, and they're using their hometown airline to get here.

Nevada tourism officials helped build that awareness as they sponsored trips for travel agents and tour packagers shortly after Aloha launched the service in early July.