Act quick! The Aloha Airlines Funbird Plane Tag won’t be around forever.
Ten years ago, Hawaii’s Aloha Airlines shut down amidst a fierce fare war instigated by newcomer go! The Mesa Air subsidiary’s goal was to give the ailing Airline one last push into history so that it could gain a foothold in the market, and it worked. Sort of.
When Aloha Airlines ceased operations, thousands lost their jobs and many travelers became stranded. And what followed was years of instability, as new competitors came and went. go! itself never really grew enough to fill the void and eventually left the Hawaii market too. And just last year, Aloha’s former subsidiary, Island Air, also ceased operations. In fact, the only thing that Mesa Air’s ill-fated strategy accomplished was to allow Hawaiian Air to grow stronger.
And while parts of Aloha Airlines continues to exist today, it isn’t the same. All that remains are the profitable Aloha Air Cargo division and Aloha Contract Services division. However, none of these companies use Aloha’s signature branding, as former Aloha Air shareholder Yucaipa Corp. retains the Airline’s intellectual property rights. But now, 10 years later, you can purchase your own small piece of the beloved Airline.
Plane Tags
If you’re not already familiar with them, Plane Tags is a company that produces bag tags from the skins of retired aircraft. Usually, they create tags from a variety of civilian and military aircraft, with most being devoid of any special design or meaning. Purchases would simply buy them for love of the specific aircraft type from which the tag is made. That being said, most tags retain the original look of the skin. This includes any blemishes the aircraft received prior to retirement. So each tag is always a unique piece of history. But, occasionally, plane tags will release a special tag cut from a special aircraft. This is the case with the Aloha Airlines Funbird Plane Tag.
Though it’s been 10 years since the Aloha flew its last flight, only recently did the Funbird (N823AL) meet the scrapper’s torch. However, the company behind Plane Tags purchased the aircraft’s iconic tail and made 10,000 tags from its skin. As a result, you can take your pick of yellow, orange, or red tags, representing the three colors this retro jet was painted in. Unfortunately, combo colors had already sold out by the time I learned of the listing. But, at least we still have an opportunity to purchase a piece of Hawaii aviation history.
Aloha Airlines Funbird Plane Tag, Final Thoughts
As an Hawaii-based AvGeek, purchasing a Funbird Plane Tag is a no-brainer. After all, I flew Aloha Airlines many times with my family as a child, and with my classmates for high school trips. And while I preferred Hawaiian Airlines in the later years, Aloha Airlines will always hold a special place in my heart. That’s why I bit the bullet and spent $40 on this Plane Tag. And if you’re thinking of buying one too, I wouldn’t think too long. Who knows how long they’ll remain in stock, and once they’re gone, they’re gone for good.