By local and wire sources
Coffee farmers expo soliciting vendors
The Kona Coffee Farmers Association will be holding its third annual expo for Kona coffee farmers and all small farmers Jan. 29. It is looking for vendors with something to sell that would be specifically for small farms, or services or resources for coffee farms or other small farm needs. Tables are free and must be reserved in advance.
The expo organizers plan to have displays, mini-workshops and product and service information for all who attend. The public is invited to the free, all-day expo at Makaeo Pavilion at Old Kona Airport Park.
Call Ray Anders at 987-9181 or Mary Lou Moss at 329-4035 to make arrangements for a vendor table.
American boosts offer for JAL to $1.4B
DALLAS — American Airlines has dug deeper to save its relationship with Japan Airlines, raising the amount it is willing to invest in the ailing airline to $1.4 billion.
American upped its previous offer by $300 million in a bid to fend off Delta Air Lines Inc. Delta wants to create its own partnership with the Japanese carrier that would operate across the Pacific and throughout Asia.
Delta and its SkyTeam partners have offered JAL $1 billion.
American executives told Japan Airlines of its new offer on Thursday, according to two people close to the situation in Tokyo, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the talks were confidential.
JAL is expected to select a new partner as soon as next week. Reports in the Japanese press suggest JAL is leaning toward jettisoning American, a company it has worked with for a decade.
American and JAL officials have denied those reports.
Delta’s offer would include a $500 million equity investment, $200 million in financing, and $300 million to offset revenue JAL might lose in the transition from American to Delta.
American officials believe their offer is superior because it includes a larger direct equity investment. They also said U.S. regulators would block closer ties between Delta and JAL because the two would dominate U.S.-Japan traffic. If regulators balked, it could limit the revenue that JAL might gain in a deal with Delta.
By local and wire sources