HONOLULU -- Aloha Airlines' decision to stop passenger flights cuts the jobs of 1,900 employees.

When employees reported for work on Sunday morning they heard a conference call and received a letter telling them most would be out work in two days.

Aloha announced the 61-year-old airline will shut down its interisland and transpacific passenger flight operations at the end of business Monday.

In a written statement Aloha's president and chief executive officer David Banmiller said the airline had no choice.

"The shutdown of Aloha Airlines is not just a tragedy, it's a travesty," Aloha pilot Michael Uslan said.

Aloha said unfair competition has succeeded in driving the airline out of business. It has an ongoing lawsuit against go!'s parent company Mesa Air Group. Aloha accuses Mesa's executives of misusing confidential information they received when they considered buying Aloha.

Mesa denied any wrong-doing.

Hawaiian Airlines won a similar suit, including $80 million in damages. However, that was not what Aloha's employees were thinking about on Sunday.

"Everybody's worrying about finding another job. I guess now everybody's going to unemployment," Aloha cleaner Chris Powell said.

Contract services employee Bette Chun is among the few who keep their jobs for now. However, the future of her position leaves her facing the unknown.

"We have to see what happens with contract service and cargo," Chun said. "We don't know anything yet."

Aloha's air cargo and aviation services units will continue to operate while the U.S. Bankruptcy Court seeks bids from potential buyers.

At the Aloha Airlines check-in counter employees put on a brave face, trying to do their work without showing too much emotion. However, when you talked to them about the shutdown the emotions came out.

"My heart is really, really heavy this is my family. I've been here for 30 years. I had two babies -- married. This is my family. It's going to be really hard to work today, but we've got to take care of our passengers that are still flying," counter employee Chris Opiopio said.

While workers did take care of the passengers they also took a few moments to shed a few tears and try to console each other.

Nicole Fong just spent six months training to begin a career at Aloha Airlines.

"I worked really had to pass probation to start a career here and it's devastating to know it's coming to and end just when I'm starting," Fong said.

She said her heart goes out to longtime employees.

"This is their life. This is their living. What are they supposed to do now?" she said.

Employees were told their sick leave and vacation is gone. Their health coverage is also ending. The company said their pensions and 401Ks are secure.

"I been 35 years with aloha airlines and, you know, it's like 85 percent of my life is working here. It's very sad to see that it goes," said Joe Kauweloa who worked for Aloha for 35 years.