fresh Aloha info?

[jenga]

Fresh Aloha Info


found this one...

http://pacific.bizjournals.com/pacific/stories/2003/01/06/daily63.html

...maybe I'm wrong, but it sounds like the expansion is continuing...

 

[B190Captain]

Anyone know where to send resume and so forth?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Freight Dog]

If you know anyone at Aloha, ask them to walk in your resume. That's your best bet. Good luck.

 

[B190Captain]

Bummer...don't know anyone!

 

[inseattlewa]

latest interviews

some more interviews happening first week in feb....supposed to be for march class...

anyone know whats going on next door at HAL?

 

[Freight Dog]

I accidentally put this article under REGIONALS board.

I really feel for those guys, especially people like Jim who just recently got recalled. I hope all you guys get back real soon.

--------------------
Hawaiian Airlines seeks employee concessions

By Kelly Yamanouchi
Advertiser Staff Writer

Employees of Hawaiian Airlines have been asked for major concessions as the struggling interisland carrier tries to recover from the lingering effects of Sept. 11 and Hawai'i's two-year tourism slump.

In meetings with unionized workers this week and communications with officials of its labor unions, Hawaiian Airlines executives painted a dire picture of Hawaiian's financial health. Their message was that unless the carrier's business plan, including employee givebacks and concessions from companies like Boeing Co., moves forward, their options will be few and would result in a significantly smaller airline.

Hawaiian executives said they hope to have the cost cuts in place by the end of February.

The effort to win concessions from Hawaiian's employees follows 10 percent pay cuts that competitor Aloha Airlines secured from its employees in December, saving it $37 million over several years. Aloha received final approval for a $40.5 million federal loan guarantee after the pay concessions were won.

Hawaiian Holdings Inc., parent company of Hawaiian Airlines, which has yet to report earnings for the fourth quarter and the full year of 2002, said in November that it expects losses in both periods.

The labor savings sought by Hawaiian could take the form of pay or benefit cuts. Concessions from companies like airplane manufacturer Boeing may involve reductions in lease fees.

John Adams, Hawaiian's chairman and chief executive, told employees that the concessions are urgently needed to help the company survive long-term, according to one worker who attended a company meeting Wednesday night.

The state's two major interisland airlines, like other carriers nationwide, have been struggling to operate in a severely depressed market. United Airlines filed for bankruptcy last month, and analysts say American Airlines may be headed there as well.

"We are still subject to the same pressures and the same effects that other airlines are facing," said Mark Dunkerley, Hawaiian's new president and chief operating officer. That point was stressed at the employee meetings.

"We have told them that wage reduction will be something that we will by all means attempt to avoid but instead seek to use them more efficiently and more productively," Adams said.

"I think the employees are very receptive," Adams said. "They understand that this is not something that they or the airline brought onto themselves, that all of what we are dealing with has to do with the condition of the industry and the economy generally."

According to a December memo to Hawaiian Airlines' machinist union members, Adams said the survival of the carrier, and its ability to meet the company's financial obligations, depend on the unions' agreeing to the concessions.

"If we don't get the consensual plan that we laid out to all the constituencies ... we'll go before the board to discuss the full number of alternatives that would be available to us," Adams said. "All of them would involve shrinking the airline as all the other airlines are doing."

Union officials representing Hawaiian's pilots, machinists and flight attendants all declined comment.

Hawaiian Airlines announced in October it was cutting its work force by 4 percent by laying off 150 employees and reducing work schedules for other employees. The airline also said in October that 60 flight attendants agreed to take leaves of absence and that the company would not fill certain open positions for further savings. Hawaiian at that time had 3,538 employees.

"It is a significant challenge to reposition an airline in the current economic environment," said Hawaiian spokesman Keoni Wagner. The effort will involve "some big developments on the horizon," but he would not elaborate.

 

[got_jumpseat?]

Hey Jim how many of you guys are on the street now? I feel for you. We got a TA at Mesa if you want me to walk yours or any HA pilots stuff in it would be my pleasure. I know some of you are EX-Mesa anyway. We should ramp up hiring again real soon if this TA gets signed. My sources say two or three weeks to a contract. If we ratify YES. Then say goodbye to freedom airlines.

I think you meant recently furloughed...thanks for the thoughts.

I think you will end up seeing some concessions from the HAL pilot group and all HAL unions. There is no doubt the airline is having financial difficulties. What the concessions are or even what is being asked is not clear yet. Management says they don't want to ask for wage cuts now but may in the future. It will all be resolved in the next month.

Management appears to want to recover fiscally by controlled growth (made possible by labor and vendor/lessor concessions) rather than through cut-backs (and possible bankruptcy). They have spent the last 6 months reexamining HAL's business model and seem to have a game plan. They seem optimistic that it will work. Now the labor union leaders need to get the experts to examine the data and make a recommendation. I'm waiting for my MEC to give me their view of the situation and their recommendations. I think HAL will survive and come back strong. I'm also optimistic that I will be recalled before the end of 2003.

Here are two more newspaper articles on the situation:

http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2003/Jan/26/bz/bz02a.html

http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2003/Jan/26/bz/bz01a.html

 

[got_jumpseat?]

Is there a Citation job in Hawaii? I hope Hawaiian kicks butt and soon! Enough lolligagging around.

There are 29 out now with 5 more on 2/1/03 for a total of 34 announced. More maybe coming, especially if the company does not get what it wants from the unions.

Thanks for the offer, I'll keep it in mind and might take you up on it if the negotiations with management tank. Right now I'm trying to get WIA money for a Citation type (already have the 737). If nothing else, it'll be fun.

Hope your TA is a good one.

 

[Freight Dog]

Jim,

You may wanna consider Aloha. Upgrades have come down quite a bit. Currently, people with 98 and 99 DOH are getting upgraded. We were also told 3 years, and based on retirements and new aircraft with minimal staffing, it's about right. This is not counting medical retirements either.

Just an idea...

 

[HAL]

Freight Dog,
If Jim gets a job, I'll be knocking on your door too.

After our last talk, I think it wouldn't be that bad an idea for me to try AQ if the stuff hits the fan here at HA.

Lets just hope it works out for all of us.

HAL

 

[Freight Dog]

You don't have to knock, HAL.. just lemme know.

Lemme know when you're in town next... my treat this time!

 

[inseattlewa]

odd question

here is a tough question for the board regarding hal guys goind to aloha and vice versa. in this case if aloha were to hire guys from hal (i don't believe aq requires seniority resignation) would those guys go right back to hal when they were called back? tough question given current situation!

i believe the hal mec has some provision that even if a hal pilot resigns his seniority he can still be recalled with that seniority (assuming a furlough situation) regardless of paperwork signed at any other company. i'm just curious as to what guys think they would do.

i have heard some rumors that there are a number of resumes from hal guys over at aq. with companies as small as both of ours, i hate to see us get beaten up by training costs.

thoughts anyone...bueller?

 

[inseattlewa]

aqpilot

whoops, sorry about that, i'm using my buddy's computer. didn't even think to look who was logged in. yeah, i am an aloha guy. sorry 'bout that. that is a heck of a clause you guys have in your contract regarding resignation! someone did a great job getting that worked in there!

how things holdin' up over there?