Hawaiian Airlines plans to lay off over 250 workers in the coming months.
A representative for Hawaiian confirmed to AirlineGeeks that 252 Hawaii-based non-union employees will be cut.
According to a report from the Honolulu Star-Advertiser, workers will be let go around Sept. 18 – the one-year anniversary of Alaska Air Group’s $1.9 billion acquisition of Hawaiian – while others will stay on until after the FAA grants a single operating certificate to the combined companies.
Hawaiian’s union positions will not be affected by the reductions. The airline said its unionized workforce actually grew, from about 5,000 to over 5,600, since the Alaska acquisition closed.
The affected workers have known for some time that their jobs, which Hawaiian described as interim roles, were ending.
“These employees have been aware of this milestone and have done meaningful work to integrate our airlines in the first year of our combination, helping us deliver greater value to our guests,” the carrier said in a statement. “We are supporting everyone through their career transition with both a retention bonus and a severance package, and individualized job placement services. We are also encouraging employees to apply for available jobs at Alaska or Hawaiian.”
Alaska Air Group, which is also the parent company of Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air, is making steady progress in integrating Hawaiian’s operations. Earlier this week, the U.S. Department of Transportation cleared the company to take over Hawaiian’s long-haul international routes.
Alaska Air Group has said it plans to maintain Hawaiian as a distinct brand to capitalize on the carrier’s reputation and brand loyalty.
