Hawaiian Airlines has told hundreds of nonunion employees in Honolulu that their jobs are ending as the company folds more of its operations into Alaska Air Group. With the latest wave of notices, merger-related cuts to noncontract roles have climbed past 400, landing hardest on administrative and operational support staff tied to Honolulu operations.
Numbers in the latest filing
The Honolulu Star-Advertiser reports that the most recent WARN filing brings the total number of noncontract positions eliminated to 418 and that Hawaiian has notified 48 additional nonunion employees who are expected to separate between May and June. These cuts follow earlier WARN notices tied to the Alaska Hawaiian integration. Honolulu Star-Advertiser.
Union win reshapes the job picture
At the same time, the labor landscape is shifting. The National Mediation Board recently certified that a majority of aircraft maintenance professionals at Alaska and Hawaiian chose the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association as their bargaining representative, with the union reporting roughly 66% support in the representation election. That result will be a central factor as the combined carrier negotiates new collective bargaining agreements that could influence staffing levels and job protections. Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association.
What the company says it will do
Hawaiian has told employees affected by integration milestones that it is offering a retention bonus, severance packages and individualized job-placement services, while encouraging staff to apply for open roles across the combined group. The airline has described most of the layoffs as the removal of duplicative, noncontract positions and has said front-line union jobs are not being cut as part of this round. Honolulu Star-Advertiser.
How this ties to the Alaska deal
Alaska Air Group completed its acquisition of Hawaiian Holdings in 2024 as part of a plan to mesh the two carriers' networks and systems, with the parent company saying the integration is intended to streamline operations across the board. The acquisition, and the complex operational integration that follows, form the backdrop for the current rounds of WARN notices and role consolidations. Alaska Air Group.
Legal note: WARN rules in Hawaii
Under Hawaii law, companies filing WARN notices are generally required to give at least 60 days' advance notice to affected workers and to state rapid-response officials, a safeguard meant to give employees and communities time to prepare. Workers who believe they did not receive the required notice may have remedies under federal and state law. Hawaii Department of Labor and Workforce Development Council.
What to watch next
All eyes now turn to how quickly new collective bargaining agreements come together, whether additional WARN filings appear and how many displaced Hawaiian employees land roles within the merged airline. For recent context on how this has unfolded, earlier rounds of notices went out when more than 250 Hawaiian employees were first told their interim noncontract roles could end. Earlier Layoff Notices To 250 Workers.
