Ventress

Martin Ventress, a flight engineer, and Jack Crawford, a commercial pilot (collectively, “plaintiffs”), sued Japan Airlines and other entities, making a number of claims. They appeal a judgment on the pleadings for Japan Airlines and its subsidiary Jalways Co., Ltd. (collectively, “JAL”). We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291 . We reverse.

Ventress separately challenges the district court’s venue transfer order and an order compelling arbitration of his claims against Hawaii Aviation Contract Services, Inc. (“HACS”). We affirm the venue transfer and dismiss Ventress’ appeal of the arbitration order.

BACKGROUND

JAL is a Japanese commercial air carrier based in Tokyo. HACS, a Hawaii corporation with its principal place of business in Honolulu, provides contract flight crews to JAL. Ventress and Crawford were employed by HACS to perform services for JAL flights. Plaintiffs’ employment agreements with HACS contain mandatory arbitration provisions.

In December 2002, Ventress and Crawford jointly filed a complaint against JAL and HACS in the Central District of California. The complaint alleged that JAL required a seriously ill pilot to fly in June 2001, in violation of…