Alaska Air Group continues restructuring Hawaiian Airlines following their September 2024 merger. Under a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification filing issued in October 2026, the carrier will eliminate 13 non-union positions between December 2026 and January 2027, primarily at its Honolulu headquarters and Daniel K. Inouye International Airport. This follows previous non-union cuts in October 2024, January 2025, July 2025, and March 2026. Regulatory conditions protect unionized staff, ensuring pilots and cabin crew remain unaffected.
Operationally, the group is executing a long-term fleet transition. Hawaiian Airlines is progressively replacing its historic inter-island Boeing 717 fleet with Boeing 737-800 aircraft. This type harmonization aims to generate maintenance and crew rostering synergies across the combined network.
Simultaneously, the parent group is upgrading premium cabins. Hawaiian Airlines will retrofit its Airbus A330 fleet with 22 Leihōkū business class suites and a dedicated premium economy section, increasing premium seating to 40 percent. Alaska Airlines will equip its Boeing 787-9, 787-10, and future Boeing 737 Max 10 aircraft with Collins Aerospace lie-flat seats. Cabin bookings open in summer 2027, with final fleet completion targeted for 2028.
Why it matters for your training
Fleet harmonization from the Boeing 717 to the Boeing 737-800 directly impacts type ratings, seniority lists, and cross-fleet crew scheduling opportunities within the merged carrier.
