Hawaii Job Question!! (how much, job openings, transfer)

[bnbzub]

Hello I work for SOUTHWEST Airlines and the rumor is we are going to start flying to Hawaii soon>
Anyway, I have heard people say that when a company has job openings in Hawaii, they have to hire locals, or a certain percentage of locals. Is this true or just a rumor... some people say its a law like foreign countries have, but its a US state, so I don't think its a law.
I couldn't find anything on google so any information would be helpful. I would like to transfer there if we start flying to Hawaii soon.
Thanks for any info.

[whtviper1]

Nobody is forced to hire locals - most do since newcomers mostly leave in a couple of years or less - nor aren't well versed how business is done here.

[Grassyknoll]

Oh god I hope this is true. I banked almost one million SW points hoping they would start service to Hawaii.

To the orifinal topic, I would think Southwest would simply honor whatever is their current employee transfer/relocation policy.

[whtviper1]

Originally Posted by Grassyknoll

To the orifinal topic, I would think Southwest would simply honor whatever is their current employee transfer/relocation policy.

Unlikely Southwest flying to Hawaii.

Even more unlikely, they'd use Southwest employees if they did.

[ScottStielow]

It's true a lot of airline companies have tried to operate to the islands. But a majority close down after a few years.
Heck, Aloha airlines closed down after 62 years in 2008? The airline went Bankrupt. No other airline company coming into the Islands, since has been able to take that slot next too Hawaiian Airlines, they fade away after a time? They claim it's the expenses to run out here, in fuel costs, ect, ect, but not right now mine you, before when fuel was high? It is still expensive to operate out of Hawaii!

[whtviper1]

Had Southwest not given up the 717 fleet to Delta they could've given the inter island market a go.

[ScottStielow]

Originally Posted by whtviper1

Had Southwest not given up the 717 fleet to Delta they could've given the inter island market a go.

Interesting! Thanks whtviper

[whtviper1]

Originally Posted by ScottStielow

Interesting! Thanks whtviper

To expand on that since you seem interested and it's not a trade secret:

Aircraft only make money when they are flying - 717 aircraft are perfect as far as jets goes for inter island as they can take off very quickly after landing - 737 aircraft on the other hand are not only bigger (hence need more peak periods to fill the plane) typically need a lot more time on the ground to cool down before the next takeoff therefore lowering efficiency - it's one of the challenges Aloha Airlines had in competing in the Go!/Hawaiian fare war - the Aloha 737 were not efficient (although there have been some improvements in newer models)

[pj737]

Originally Posted by whtviper1

To expand on that since you seem interested and it's not a trade secret:

Aircraft only make money when they are flying - 717 aircraft are perfect as far as jets goes for inter island as they can take off very quickly after landing - 737 aircraft on the other hand are not only bigger (hence need more peak periods to fill the plane) typically need a lot more time on the ground to cool down before the next takeoff therefore lowering efficiency - it's one of the challenges Aloha Airlines had in competing in the Go!/Hawaiian fare war - the Aloha 737 were not efficient (although there have been some improvements in newer models)

Viper, how much of an impact will crashing oil prices have on airfare? My understanding is jet fuel (when oil was well over $100/barrel) accounted for 30-40% of the total operating cost of an airline for a flight between Hawaii and the west coast. With oil in the mid to high 20's now, does this mean we may be in for some price cuts on airfare?

[whtviper1]

Originally Posted by pj737

Viper, how much of an impact will crashing oil prices have on airfare? My understanding is jet fuel (when oil was well over $100/barrel) accounted for 30-40% of the total operating cost of an airline for a flight between Hawaii and the west coast. With oil in the mid to high 20's now, does this mean we may be in for some price cuts on airfare?

This is complicated. Short answer: airfare is based on what passengers are willing to pay, regardless of oil prices. Hawaii is even more complicated - record tourism for 4 straight years puts pressure on airlines to not lower prices despite falling oil - simply because the planes are full.

Another point - airlines lost $50 billion plus 2000-2010 - and in that timeframe Aloha went out of business and Hawaiian went bankrupt as little as a bit more than 10 years ago / so there is some catch up happening.

Ultimately if demand slackens airfare will go down.

Really want to see lower airfare? Hope for another airline to flood capacity with a fare war like Go! did, although that didn't turn out well.