Hawaiian Airlines Pilot Recruitment 2026
Hiring status, requirements, selection steps and the path to the seat. Requirements checked against Hawaiian Airlines' official careers pages on .
Is Hawaiian Airlines hiring pilots in 2026?
Yes. Hawaiian Airlines is recruiting pilots, according to its official careers pages as of August 22, 2026. Total time: 1,500 hours documented. The selection process has 3 steps, set out step by step below. New pilots join a fleet of A321neo, B787-9.
Hawaiian 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 Hawaiian 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 | 4 bases · HNL, OGG, LIH, KOA |
| Fleet types | A321neo, B787-9 |
| Contract type | Permanent (now part of Alaska Air Group) |
| Type ratings accepted | A321, B787 |
| Assessment stages | 4 stages · 3-step pipeline |
Hawaiian Airlines pilot requirements
As published on Hawaiian 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, the §61.159 aeronautical experience for an ATP airplane category rating, and a current ATP written. The ATP certificate is preferred, not required. |
| Medical | Current FAA First Class |
| Documents | A passport with unrestricted US access, valid at least six months at time of employment |
| First-year pay | $87.00 per hour per contract, with a 75-hour monthly guarantee |
What the job pays
Estimate — not yet verified against the pilot contract. Full Hawaiian Airlines pay table, by year and aircraft
The full table with every figure is on the Hawaiian Airlines salary page.
From student pilot to Hawaiian 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
Hawaiian Airlines First Officer
1,500 hours documentedPay steps up every year of seniority on the contract scale.
Step 8
Hawaiian 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: Hawaiian Airlines Pilot Application Process
The Hawaiian 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 Air Group pilot portal (post-merger).
- 2
Interview
1 dayPanel interview in Honolulu.
- 3
Training
8-12 weeksA321 or B787 type rating.
Assessment Stages: What Hawaiian 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
Hawaiian Airlines Pilot Interview Questions
Typical questions in airline pilot panel and HR interviews, including at Hawaiian Airlines. Prepare STAR-format answers (Situation, Task, Action, Result) and 8-10 real aviation stories.
- Q1
Why Hawaiian 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 Hawaiian Airlines
2 aircraft types currently operated
Type ratings accepted at application
Holding one of these ratings can accelerate the hiring pipeline.
Hawaiian Airlines Pilot Bases (4)
Available pilot bases — bid by seniority
Insider Tips for Hawaiian Airlines Applicants
Hawaii-based lifestyle is unique among US airlines
Trans-Pacific flying on B787
Post-merger integration with Alaska Airlines ongoing
Knowing the Hawaiian 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 Hawaiian 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 Hawaiian Airlines hiring pilots in 2026?
What are the minimum requirements to fly for Hawaiian Airlines?
What is the Hawaiian Airlines pilot selection process?
What aircraft does Hawaiian Airlines fly?
Where are Hawaiian Airlines pilot bases?
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