Capt. Larry Payne, Chair of the Hawaiian Airlines Master Executive Council, Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l issued the following statement today in response to today’s announcement of the airline’s new Amazon freight contract:
“2023 will be an exciting year for the Hawaiian Airlines pilots. Not only will Hawaiian begin operating the first of its long-anticipated Boeing 787 Dreamliners, we are thrilled to confirm today that we will begin flying A330 freighters for Amazon. This new freight venture should add hundreds of new employees to our airline, including 100–200 pilots, in addition to the rapid expansion we are already experiencing with our passenger service.
“ALPA has been working closely with Hawaiian management for more than a year to make this deal a reality. Partnering with Amazon will provide even greater growth and advancement opportunities for the Hawaiian pilots, as well as critical diversification of both our airline’s operations and route network alike.
“Ultimately, we expect this new operation to fuel tremendous new opportunities and gains for our pilot group, while simultaneously powering long-term sustainability for Hawaiian Airlines. It accelerates our exciting upward trajectory into the future, and we’re delighted about this new venture and the possibilities it presents.”
