Alaska No Longer Accepting Apps?!?

[Moosedryvr]

Just talked with a buddy of mine and he said that Alaska will not be accepting applications from any source (to include employee referals) and that there will be limited additional hiring for the forseeable future (possibly interviewing for a "pool" of ~50 pilots--move over SWA and FedEx guys and make more room at the deep end). Also noticed Alaska is not attending today's AirInc conference (coincidence?).
I hope that this is a temporary "let's see how things are going" and not a long term hiring freeze. Any Alaska folks out there who can confirm, deny or add to the rumour mill?

 

[P3tarbaby]

Word from my Alaska buds is that your info is correct because they have a list of 100-150 from referrals that they will be drawing from for any interviews and hiring this year. Most of the guys I know say things will probably open up again toward the end of the year.

 

[lumax]

I heard the same thing form our base pilot's admin.
I think that even without any expansion, we'll have to start hiring again sometime next year just to keep up with retirements (which really kick in starting in 04).
Of course, if itchy trigger finger George B. sends the U.S. to war, then it's anybody's guess!

 

[mach none]

The word is we have classes scheduled through April with a pool of 50 and about 80 - 100 on the call list. Those 50 are waiting for the official OK from corporate to schedule classes for the remainder of the year.

Management keeps telling us that we will grow 6-8% this year with a net gain of 7 a/c. We are retiring some MDs and getting 11 NGs. They also have said we can anticipate a net gain of 6 a/c in 04 as well. This latter part is contingent on the economy turning the corner and who knows what will happen with Trigger happy George and Iraq.