Servco Pacific Inc. said its has repaired about 3,000 Toyotas that were recalled by the carmaker because of a potential problem with sticking gas pedals.

Technicians completed repairs on up to 200 vehicles per day, totaling about 40 percent of the 8,000 recalled models in Hawai'i, said Mark Fukunaga, chairman and chief executive officer of Servco.

With the Māpunapuna service center open around the clock, and all Toyota dealers and service centers statewide extending their hours of operation, Fukunaga said most customers are able to get same-day service.

Customers on Oahu can call 839-2273 to schedule an appointment. Customers on the Neighbor Islands can call 888-272-5515.

The nationwide recall affected 2.3 million vehicles of some of Toyota's most popular models, because of rare instances of sticking gas pedals. There have been no confirmed reports of accidents or injuries in Hawai'i involving the recalled vehicles.

UNITED TO ADD CHICAGO-MAUI FLIGHT

United Airlines said yesterday it will add a seasonal flight this summer from Chicago to Maui.

The direct flight will be offered from June 9 through Aug. 14, the airline said, in a news release.

The Maui flight was one of several seasonal and year-round flights United announced yesterday connecting 13 destinations with the airline's hubs in Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Washington.

United said the flights are consistent with its "approach to deploying capacity most effectively, particularly during the peak summer months."

BLACKSTONE ENTERS GENERAL GROWTH SALE

NEW YORK — Blackstone Group LP, the world's largest private-equity firm, may join Simon Property Group Inc.'s bid to buy bankrupt General Growth Properties Inc., according to Bloomberg News Service.

General Growth owns or manages seven malls in Hawai'i, including Ala Moana Center and Windward Mall.

Sources told Bloomberg that Blackstone is in preliminary talks with Simon, the biggest U.S. mall owner. Bloomberg said the sources declined to be identified because the negotiations are private. Simon, which made a $10 billion takeover offer for General Growth public Feb. 16, would lead any partnership, one of the sources said.

A collaboration with Blackstone would give Simon more "firepower" and may allow it to raise its offer after General Growth rebuffed it as too low, said Ben Yang, an analyst with Keefe, Bruyette & Woods in San Francisco.