Hawaiian Airlines flight attendants have voted to extend their labor agreement with the airline, aligning the amendable dates for Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines flight attendants as the combined company will work on a joint agreement in the future.
Hawaiian Airlines
IATA/ICAO Code
HA/HAL
Year Founded
1929
According to the carrier, its flight attendants’ previous contract was set to become amendable sometime in April. All sides started negotiations in March for a joint agreement for the two airlines’ cabin crew members.
New Post-Merger Contract
Photo: Robin Guess | Shutterstock
On April 17, Hawaiian Airlines announced that it has reached an agreement on a new contract with its flight attendants, represented by the Association of Flight Attendants-Communications Workers of America (AFA-CWA).
In its statement, the airline said that its flight attendants ratified the three-year contract extension by 88%. The union said that the extension includes pay increases, retirement improvements, better profit sharing and inclusion in Alaska Airlines’
profit sharing program, and a strong foundation to build upon as negotiations for a Joint Collective Bargaining Agreement (JCBA) begin soon.
Lokesh Amaranayaka, the Vice President of Airport and In-Flight Operations at Hawaiian Airlines, said that the airline was pleased to have reached the agreement with its flight attendants, who, in addition to ensuring the safety of its guests, are known for the exceptional service they provide on every flight.
“We deeply value the role our flight attendants have in the success of our company, and this contract extension positions us well for the future of our combined airlines.”
Collective Bargaining Beginning Soon
Photo: Lukas Souza | Simple Flying
Hawaiian Airlines added that the previous contract with its cabin crews became amendable in April 2025. In March, AFA-CWA’s Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) and members from Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines’ labor relations team started negotiations for a new JCBA for the more than 9,200 flight attendants now working under the umbrella of Alaska Air Group.
On March 14, when the two sides reached a tentative agreement (TA), Joni Kashiwai, the Negotiations Chair of Hawaiian Airlines at AFA-CWA, said that the Hawaiian carrier’s flight attendants deserve certainty and guaranteed improvements as negotiations with the group will move toward a joint contract. According to Kashiwai, the extension provides economic improvements while JCBA negotiations begin soon.
During the 52nd AFA-CWA Board of Directors Conference on April 5 in Orlando, Florida, the US, the Hawaiian Airlines chapter of the AFA said that during the meeting, a historic milestone was marked, as the airline’s chapter was officially recognized as part of AFA Alaska-Hawaiian following the merger, which concluded in September 2024. AFA Hawaiian Airlines said that the Board acknowledged the vital transition “with deep respect and appreciation, affirming that Hawaiian Flight Attendants will always be honored for their invaluable contributions to AFA – past, present, and future.”
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Merging Two Strong And Complex Contracts
Photo: Alaska Airlines
On March 21, Alaska Airlines’ AFA-CWA published an update on the negotiations of the JCBA, saying that with the Master Executive Councils (MEC) now merged, the JNC has been able to start talks on March 18.
According to the union, the bargaining process is unique since it would merge “two strong and complex contracts on the heels of negotiating successor contracts to both the Hawaiian and Alaska Contracts.” Thus, its opening proposals in JNC were broad and brief, covering such points as each contract section being addressed individually, the Alaska Airlines collective bargaining agreement (CBA, agreed on in February) being used as a basis for language purposes, and the union looking for improvements compared to the current contract.
Tentative agreements had been reached on such items as non-discrimination, purpose of contract, savings clause, status of agreement, probation period, association security, and medical examinations. The JNC said that as negotiations continue, the committee would meet with the airline’s management for one session per month, with the union saying that flight attendants’ input will be crucial as the JNC pinpoints the most beneficial language from the two contracts covering Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines flight attendants.
