Hawaiin Airlines is a large regional carrier and the largest operator in and out of the Hawaiian Islands. It’s based in Honolulu and began operations in 1929 as Inter-Island Airways.
Where are Hawaiian Pilot Bases?
Hawaiian is based in Honolulu, with its primary hub at the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport on O’ahu. A secondary hub is operated at the Kahului Airport in Maui. Additionally, a crew base is maintained in Los Angeles.
Besides the islands and mainland US, Hawaiian serves Asia, American Samoa, Australia, French Polynesia, and New Zealand. They have code share agreements with China Airlines, Japan Airlines, Korean Air, JetBlue, Japan Transocean Air, and Virgin Australia.
What airplanes are in the Hawaiian Airlines Fleet?
Hawaiian operates a fleet of Airbus A321neo, A330, and Boeing 717. The company will begin taking deliveries of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner in November of 2023. In total, they operate about 62 planes.
Additionally, Hawaiian has entered an agreement to operate a fleet of ten A330 freighter aircraft for Amazon Air. The first two aircraft will be delivered in 2023.
What are the Hiring Requirements for Hawaiian Pilots?
Hawaiian is actively recruiting pilots to become first officers. At the time of writing, the company is offering a $10,000 signing bonus to qualified pilots who join. The requirements are as follows.
- FAA ATP Multi-engine land
- FAA First-Class medical
- FCC Restricted Radiotelephone Operator Permit
- 1,500 hours total flight time with at least 1,000 hours in fixed-wing aircraft
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Eligible to work in the US
Additionally, Hawaiian gives preference to candidates with:
- 1,000 hours turbine PIC
- Turbojet or turboprop experience in complex flight environments
- College degree
Hawaiian Airlines Pilot Salary
Hawaiian pilots are paid hourly. The rate depends on seniority (years at the company) and the equipment flown. The highest-paying equipment is their A330/B787 long-haul fleet.
Pilots are guaranteed 65 to 75 hours each month. The annual pay estimates below assume 70 hours each month. Annual pay assumes 12 bid periods.
Hawaiian employs about 1,100 pilots.
Hawaiian First Officer Pay
The starting rate for first officers is $81 per hour. That comes to about $6,480/month or $77,760/year. There is also a $10,000 signing bonus for new first officers.
By year three, first officers make between $150 and $208 per hour. That’s $10,500–14,560/month or $126,000–174,720/year.
Senior first officers (with the company 12 years or more) make between $197 and $273 per hour, or $13,790–19,110/month ($165,480–229,320/year).
| Year 1 | $77,000 |
| Year 5 | $159,360 |
Hawaiian Airlines Captain Pay
First-year captains make between $259 and $359 per hour depending on what aircraft they’re flying. That comes out to be about $18,130–25,130/month or $217,560–301,560/year.
Senior captains (with the company for 12 years or more) make between $283 and $392 per hour. That’s $19,810–27,440/month or $237,720–329,280/year.
| Year 1 | $248,000 |
| Year 5 | $257,000 |
| Year 12 | $271,000 |
Discover how much pilots make for all the major and regional airlines in the USA on our pilot salary guide.
How Do I Apply for a Hawaiian Airlines Pilot Job?
Hawaiian Airlines is accepting applications from pilots who meet the stated qualifications. Simply go to the Hawaiian Careers page and start an online application. You will have to supply four letters of recommendation and a current resume.