Alaska Airlines Pilot Recruitment 2026
Hiring status, requirements, selection steps and the path to the seat. Requirements checked against Alaska Airlines' official careers pages on .
Is Alaska Airlines hiring pilots in 2026?
Yes. Alaska Airlines is recruiting pilots, according to its official careers pages as of August 22, 2026. Total time: 1,500 hours documented. New First Officers earn $129.71 an hour under the published scale. The selection process has 3 steps, set out step by step below.
Alaska Airlines screens with an aptitude battery before a human reads your application.
Sit a timed practice paper free — no account. Scored on pace as well as accuracy, because pace is what the real battery culls on.
Where are you with Alaska Airlines?
Selection runs on its own timetable, and what helps depends entirely on where you are in it. Tell us, and what we send you matches that — nothing else.
| Hiring status | Active— applications open |
|---|---|
| Country / Region | United States · North America |
| Bases | 5 bases · SEA, PDX, SFO, LAX, ANC |
| Fleet types | B737-800/900/MAX, A320neo/A321neo, ERJ-175 |
| Contract type | Permanent, seniority-based |
| Type ratings accepted | B737, A320, ERJ-175 |
| Assessment stages | 4 stages · 3-step pipeline |
Alaska Airlines pilot requirements
As published on Alaska Airlines' official careers pages, checked August 22, 2026.
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Total time | 1,500 hours documented |
| Fixed-wing turbine | 500 hours (airplane and powered-lift combined) |
| Certificates — required | FAA Commercial Pilot certificate with Instrument-Airplane, all the aeronautical experience for an ATP airplane category rating per 14 CFR §61.159, and a current ATP written exam. The ATP certificate itself is preferred, not required. |
| Medical | Current FAA First Class |
| Age | 23 minimum |
| Education | High school diploma or equivalent; four-year degree preferred |
| Documents | A passport with unrestricted access in and out of the United States, valid at least six months at time of employment, plus a valid US state or territory driver's licence and US work authorisation |
| Base | Must be comfortable with a domicile in Seattle, Los Angeles, Anchorage, Portland or San Francisco |
| Preferred | Four-year degree, ATP certificate, 500 hours multi-engine, 500 hours turbine PIC, at least 50 hours flown in the last 12 months, and turbojet or turboprop experience in a complex flying environment |
| First-year pay | $124.72 per hour per contract, with a 70-hour monthly guarantee (75 long-call, 84 short-call on reserve) |
What the job pays
From the 2022 Alaska–ALPA contract as extended in 2024. Full Alaska Airlines pay table, by year and aircraft
The full table with every figure is on the Alaska Airlines salary page.
From student pilot to Alaska Airlines Captain
The hour figures are the FAA legal minimums (14 CFR Part 61); the time ranges are typical, not promises.
Step 1
Private Pilot certificate
40 h minimum 3–6 months 14 CFR 61.109Ground school, the FAA Private Pilot knowledge test (60 questions, 70% to pass), then the checkride. Most students log well over the 40-hour legal minimum.
Try free FAA Private Pilot written questionsStep 2
Instrument rating
50 h cross-country PIC + 40 h instrument 2–4 months 14 CFR 61.65Flying by reference to instruments in cloud. Another FAA knowledge test and checkride.
Step 3
Commercial Pilot certificate
250 h total 6–12 months 14 CFR 61.129The certificate that lets you be paid to fly. Add a multi-engine rating here or later.
Step 4
Build time (usually as a flight instructor)
250 → 1,500 h 1–2 yearsMost pilots instruct (CFI) or fly charter/survey to reach airline minimums.
Step 5
ATP minimums
1,500 h (R-ATP: 1,250 / 1,000 / 750) 14 CFR 61.159 / 61.160Restricted ATP at 1,250 h with an aviation associate degree, 1,000 h with a bachelor's, 750 h for qualifying military pilots. The ATP CTP course comes before the ATP knowledge test.
Step 6
Regional or entry-level airline First Officer
Turbine and Part 121 time 2–4 yearsWhere most US major-airline pilots build turbine and pilot-in-command time.
Step 7
Alaska Airlines First Officer
1,500 hours documentedPay steps up every year of seniority on the contract scale.
Step 8
Alaska Airlines Captain
Seniority-based upgrade Depends on seniority and growthCaptain seats are bid by seniority; how fast you hold one depends on hiring and retirements, not on your logbook alone.
How to Apply: Alaska Airlines Pilot Application Process
The Alaska Airlines pilot selection process step by step, as the airline describes it (checked August 22, 2026). Where the airline does not publish a stage, we say so.
- 1
Online Application
1-2 weeksApply through Alaska Airlines pilot portal.
- 2
Assessment Day
1 dayPanel interview and sim evaluation at Seattle training center.
- 3
CJO & Training
8-12 weeksConditional offer followed by B737 or A320 type rating.
Assessment Stages: What Alaska Airlines Tests
1. Online Application & Screening
Initial review of qualifications, flight hours, certificates, and background.
Preparation Tips
- Ensure logbook is accurate and up to date
- Have all certificates scanned and ready
- Tailor your CV to airline operations
2. Aptitude & Psychometric Testing
Computer-based tests measuring cognitive ability, multi-tasking, spatial awareness, and personality traits.
Preparation Tips
- Practice with COMPASS or PILAPT test preparation
- Work on mental math speed
- Get adequate sleep before test day
3. Simulator Assessment
Fixed-base or full-motion simulator session evaluating hand-flying, instrument skills, and multi-crew coordination.
Preparation Tips
- Practice raw-data instrument approaches
- Brief out loud as you would with a real crew
- Manage workload verbally
4. Panel / HR Interview
Competency-based interview with senior pilots and HR covering behavioral scenarios, motivation, and airline knowledge.
Preparation Tips
- Use STAR method for behavioral answers
- Research the airline thoroughly
- Prepare 8-10 strong aviation anecdotes
Alaska Airlines Pilot Interview Questions
Typical questions in airline pilot panel and HR interviews, including at Alaska Airlines. Prepare STAR-format answers (Situation, Task, Action, Result) and 8-10 real aviation stories.
- Q1
Why Alaska Airlines?
- Q2
Describe a situation where you made a critical decision under time pressure.
- Q3
Why do you want to fly for this airline specifically?
- Q4
Tell me about a time you went above and beyond for safety.
- Q5
How do you handle fatigue management during long duty periods?
- Q6
Describe your most challenging flight and what you learned from it.
Fleet You Could Fly at Alaska Airlines
3 aircraft types currently operated
Type ratings accepted at application
Holding one of these ratings can accelerate the hiring pipeline.
Alaska Airlines Pilot Bases (5)
Available pilot bases — bid by seniority
Insider Tips for Alaska Airlines Applicants
Pacific Northwest lifestyle is a major draw
Horizon Air flow-through provides regional pathway
Fleet expanding after Hawaiian Airlines merger
Strong safety culture and pilot satisfaction
Knowing the Alaska Airlines process is step one. Being ready for the stages that actually cut people is step two.
Before a human reads your application there is an aptitude battery, and candidates consistently report it as the heaviest cull — pace, not difficulty. You can practise it here for free: timed papers generated fresh each run, plus a divided-attention drill that measures how much your performance degrades under load.
Already past the paperwork and preparing for the panel? , scored against the answers a panel is listening for. Seven days of access, no subscription.
No Alaska Airlines pack yet — want it built?
We will not pretend to have one. We build the next pack for the airline that gets asked for most, so leaving your address here is a vote. No sequence, one email when it ships.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Alaska Airlines hiring pilots in 2026?
What are the minimum requirements to fly for Alaska Airlines?
What is the Alaska Airlines pilot selection process?
How much does a new Alaska Airlines pilot earn?
What aircraft does Alaska Airlines fly?
Where are Alaska Airlines pilot bases?
Related Pilot Career Resources
Airline Pilot Interview Guide
200+ questions
HR scenarios, sim assessment drills, and the question banks used at every major airline.
All Airline Recruitment Guides
Hub: 55 airlines
Compare hiring status, requirements, and bases across every major airline.
Pilot Jobs by State
US directory
Find airline pilot jobs in all 50 US states — airlines, airports, and top employers.