There's a surreal twist in the inter-island war. Go! Airlines could be renamed Aloha Airlines. It's part of a settlement deal that has the former arch-rivals teaming up to cash in on Aloha's valuable brand name. Under the settlement, go!'s paren't company Mesa Air Group has to pay two million dollars and provide travel benefits to former Aloha workers.

If Aloha's main investor wins the name rights in bankruptcy court next week, it has agreed to license the name to Mesa. The license would be for 10 years.

The famous logo of Aloha Airlines may grace Hawaii's skies again -- on go! Airlines planes; the very company many claim helped push Aloha out of business.

"The possibility to have the Aloha brand, his iconic brand that's been around for 40 years, that's known not only in Hawaii but on the mainland and around the Asia Pacific, this is a great opportunity for us to grow our business here in hawaii," said Paul Skellon, Vice President of Corporate Communications at go! Airlines.

Airline analyst Peter Forman is not only surprised Aloha may give up the name, but he's also skeptical.

"I don't really know why they would do that. I think there's more to the story than meets the eye and we'll just have to wait for th last piece of the puzzle to make itself known," Forman said.

Aloha's bankruptcy in march put nearly 2,000 workers out of work. A former employee says the possible name-swap hurts.

"It was a part of who were were," said Sharolyn Pastor, a former Aloha Airlines flight attendant. "It would be completely wrong for someone else, especially Mesa or go! Airlines to attempt to take on our image through our name."

Forman says, so far, go! Airlines hasn't been able to attract many of the passengers that use to fly Aloha. He thinks local families will continue to shun go!, but mainland travelers won't care.

"The Aloha name is very recognizable in the mainland so it could mean millions and millions of dollars a year difference in income," he continued, "I dont think the local travelers are going to go for it. I think they are going to recognize even if Mesa gets the name Aloha, this isn't the same Aloha."

But we found one local traveler who doesn't care what logo is on the plane.

"One thing is price," said April Nishii when choosing which airline to fly. "I hate to say to but sometimes it is the more important thing. And also schedule."

Go! officials add, as part of the agreement, Aloha would share in the profits of the operation going forward.

Howard Dicus' Take:

• The remarkable twist in the story of Aloha Airlines

Related Stories:

• Go! Parent Company Faces Possible Bankruptcy
• Mesa Air Group, Hawaiian Airlines Reach Settlement
• KGMB9.com Extra - Aloha Airlines' CEO Speaks
• Aloha Airlines Files for Bankruptcy Protection
• Mesa Decision Could Take Awhile

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