A relaxation of Hawaii’s quarantine rules has prompted the airline to update its expectations for involuntary job cuts.
According to reports, Hawaiian Airlines has revised its expectations for involuntary redundancies induced by the COVID-19 crisis.
The revision has come in response to changes to the state government’s 14-day quarantine rules, which would, as of mid-October, reportedly allow Inbound travellers to skip mandatory quarantine if they have taken an FDA-approved COVID-19 test within three days of traveling to Hawaii.
The easing of quarantine restrictions is expected to trigger an increase in passenger traffic, which has plunged 90 per cent on last year.
As a result, the airline’s executive vice president and chief legal officer, Aaron Alter, informed the Hawaiian state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations that projected furloughs for union employees has been revised down from over 2,000 to 416.
However, the expected reduction in furloughs has also been supported by an increase in voluntary redundancies (1,850) and early retirements.
Approximately 185 non-union employees have also been cut from Hawaiian Airline’s workforce, through voluntary separations or by decisions not to fill vacancies.
Hawaiian Airlines president and CEO Peter Ingram has previously highlighted the challenges facing the airline as it grapples with ongoing uncertainty.
“This is an incredibly painful time for our company and for all of us personally,” he said.
“But I haven’t seen anything in that time that compares to the way that this pandemic has hobbled our business.
“We’re forced to take steps now that just a few months ago were unthinkable. I’m sure for many of you there is sadness, some disbelief and anxiety for the future. I share those emotions and more.”
