Alaska Airlines

Stronger Together: Alaska and Hawaiian Pilots Begin New Chapter

For Alaska Airline’s pilots, 2025 included a great deal of work and momentum—with much of the year devoted to negotiating a Joint Collective Bargaining Agreement with Hawaiian Airlines pilots as a result of the merger of the two airlines. Late in the year, the FAA issued a single operating certificate, officially merging Alaska and Hawaiian operations and advancing the merger process into the next phase.

Notably, the Alaska Master Executive Council (MEC) also focused on building a cohesive pilot group while continuing day-to-day union activities. Throughout the year, pilots came together during a range of outreach efforts, from coffee sits to the “Surf to Summit Tour,” all focused on building solidarity with the goal of having a unified voice at the bargaining table.

In 2025, the MEC secured meaningful increases in pilot compensation, including negotiating pay-at-door closure and implementing market-rate adjustments, to ensure that Alaska pilots’ pay remains competitive. The next milestone will be reaching a tentative agreement on a Joint Collective Bargaining Agreement and moving toward integrating the Alaska and Hawaiian pilots’ seniority lists.

Throughout this transformative year, Alaska and Hawaiian pilots demonstrated exceptional professionalism and adaptability. Their dedication to leading through change is building the foundation for the progress the pilots’ aim to achieve in 2026.

This merger's potential extends beyond creating a larger, very different airline—it creates collective enhanced opportunities for the combined 4,600-plus pilots of both airlines as they build upon their proud 90-plus year legacies.

Alaska Airlines MEC