Hawaiian Airlines to cut 537 non-union jobs in Oahu

Hawaiian Airlines is to lay off 537 non-union employees across three workgroups, with the cuts expected to take place in December and January, according to Simple Flying. The airline is owned by Alaska Air Group, and the reductions follow earlier rounds of post-merger job losses.

What has been announced

Simple Flying cites Island News in reporting that Hawaiian Airlines filed a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act notice with the state on 2 October. The Act requires employers to give at least 60 days' notice of possible mass layoffs so that staff can prepare for job searches or retraining.

The affected roles are said to sit in three areas: the corporate headquarters in Honolulu, the cargo division, and Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL). Hawaiian has not said which positions are going or how many people in each workgroup are affected. Simple Flying says it has asked the airline for details.

Alaska Air Group has said the cuts will be permanent and that no facilities are expected to close. Affected employees are to receive a retention bonus, a severance package and help from job-search services, according to the report.

Part of a longer run of cuts

Simple Flying sets the announcement against several earlier rounds since the merger with Alaska Airlines closed in September 2024:

• October 2024: 73 employees laid off
• July 2025: 252 non-union employees announced as being cut
• March 2026: 48 employees dismissed, 41 of them at headquarters
• October 2026: 537 employees

The article also mentions a January 2025 round affecting 61 Hawaii-based staff, which does not appear in its own timeline. Before the merger Hawaiian had over 1,300 non-union employees, and Simple Flying says the combined cuts have trimmed its managerial and administrative workforce by more than half. As part of regulatory approval, Alaska Air Group pledged to keep all unionised employees, and it has continued hiring unionised pilots and flight attendants to support fleet growth.

The report adds that a continued downturn in international travel and a sharp rise in jet fuel prices this year have added cost pressure.

Investment continues alongside the cuts

Simple Flying notes that the airlines are still investing in the passenger product. Last month Hawaiian announced that its Airbus A330 fleet will gain 22 Leihōkū Business Class suites and its first premium economy seats, plus a new premium lounge at HNL. Alaska's Boeing 787s will receive Aurora Suites and Premium Reserve seats. Booking for the new seats is expected to open next summer, with upgraded interiors due in 2028.

What this means for travellers

The sources do not report any change to flights, schedules or airport services as a result of the layoffs. The reported cuts are non-union, mainly corporate roles, and Alaska Air Group has said no facilities will close. Only one position each is reported at HNL and in cargo, according to the figures given, though the numbers across the three workgroups are not fully broken down and Hawaiian has not confirmed them. Travellers with Hawaii bookings should not expect immediate disruption on the basis of this announcement, but it is not yet known whether service levels will be affected. Passengers can check with the airline for any updates.

Sources: Simple Flying.