How Hawaiian and Alaska merge impact to pilot job market?

How Hawaiian and Alaska merge impact to pilot job market?

You might wonder if your pilot job market will be promising in 2-3 years when you're qualified to apply to those airlines...

Here are the good and bad things in the pilot job market after merger:

Job Security and Growth

• The airlines have stated that union-represented jobs in Hawaii will be maintained and potentially grow after the acquisition.
• This suggests that existing Hawaiian Airlines pilots are likely to retain their positions.
• Additionally, the combined company may offer more opportunities for career advancement and growth for pilots from both airlines.

Seniority Integration

One of the most significant challenges in airline mergers is integrating pilot seniority lists.

Who are they going to prioritize? 7 years of seniority captain in Alaska and 7 years of seniority captain in Hawaiian will have same seniority after merger?

• This process can be complex and delicate, as seniority directly affects pilots' schedules, routes, and career progression.
• The outcome of seniority integration negotiations will be crucial for pilots from both airlines.

Expanded Route Network

• The merger will create a combined network reaching 141 destinations directly, including 29 international markets.
• This expanded route structure may provide pilots with more diverse flying opportunities and potentially more desirable routes.

Pilot Retention

• There is a possibility that some pilots may choose to leave if they are unhappy with the merger terms or integration process.
• However, the current pilot shortage in the industry may incentivize the new company to work hard to retain experienced pilots.

Long-Term Career Options

• The merger may provide pilots with more attractive long-term career options.
• For example, the addition of Hawaiian's widebody operations for Amazon cargo flights could offer more diverse career paths for pilots within the company.

Impact on New CPL Holders

• Potential job opportunities: The merged airline may need to hire more pilots to cover their expanded network.
• Diverse experience: New pilots could gain experience on a variety of routes and aircraft types, potentially accelerating their career development.
• Competitive hiring: The merger might attract more experienced pilots, potentially making entry-level positions more competitive.

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Effects on LCC Pilots

• Career advancement: The merger could create movement in the industry, potentially opening up positions at other airlines as pilots shift between companies.
• Widebody opportunities: Hawaiian's widebody operations might offer LCC pilots a chance to transition to larger aircraft without moving to a legacy carrier.
• Increased competition: The strengthened Alaska-Hawaiian combination might pressure other airlines, including legacies, to improve their pilot recruitment and retention efforts.

Overall Industry Impact

While the merger itself may not directly solve the industry-wide pilot shortage, it could potentially create a more stable and attractive employer for pilots. This might help with pilot recruitment and retention in the long run.

It's important to note that the full impact on the pilot job market will become clearer as the integration process unfolds and specific details of labor agreements are worked out between the merged airline and pilot unions.