Hawaiian Airlines and Honolulu Community College are teaming up to train the next generation of aircraft mechanics, expanding their workforce development partnership with the launch of the Maintenance Technician Development Program.
MTDP offers "significant financial and professional support" for selected students enrolled in the school's Aeronautics Maintenance Technology Program, or AERO, an announcement from Honolulu CC noted.
The aspiring aircraft technicians who apply and are selected for the program will receive a $10,500 stipend and up to $1,800 reimbursement for airframe and power plant certificate exam fees, as well as mentorship from Hawaiian Airlines mechanics, according to the announcement.
Graduates also will be given "a contingent job offer with Hawaiian Airlines, securing a clear path to employment," Honolulu CC says.
MTDP began accepting applications on Sept. 3. The program is just the latest collaboration between the airline and the college.
According to Honolulu CC, the two organizations developed the Aircraft Mechanic Apprenticeship Program, or AMAP, in 2016. As part of that program, students take classes during the day and work part-time at Hawaiian's maintenance hangar, "gaining hands-on experience and getting paid to perform maintenance and repairs," the announcement noted.
“The need is significant now in part in our case, because Hawaiian Airlines is growing and in our combination with Alaska Airlines, we're adding a number of new aircraft maintenance technician positions in Honolulu and throughout our system, but there are also many retirements happening,” Hawaiian Airlines CEO Joe Sprague said in a provided video clip.
Hawaiian Airlines spokesperson Alex Da Silva told Aloha State Daily in an email that the airline currently has 570 airline mechanics — or aviation maintenance technicians — and continues to "hire regularly to meet demand as we grow our business through our Alaska Airlines combination and also to account for retirement."
That number includes more than 50 AMAP grads, HCC says.
So far this year, Da Silva says the airline has hired 58 aircraft mechanics across its system and is projected to fill more than 600 Hawai‘i-based frontline positions by the end of 2025, including pilots, flight attendants and airport operations teams. Looking for a new gig? You can check out openings here.
Starting pay is about $75,000 a year, with the potential to earn $113,000 or more, according to Da Silva.
"These are specialized, highly skilled jobs and increasing access and opportunities to training and certification is a big challenge — which is why our Honolulu Community College partnership is so critical," Da Silva says. "We know that many Hawai‘i students would prefer to build a career right here [in] the Islands, and as Hawai‘i's airline, we want young people to stay and see a path to join our company, where they get the best of both worlds in a large, Hawai‘i-based company that is also global."
“Hawaiian Airlines has been such a great partner to us and our AERO maintenance program. And the fact that they've come to us and they said that they're going to provide this scholarship and work opportunity — we are very grateful to them for this,” Honolulu CC Chancellor Karen Lee said in a provided video clip.
According to the announcement, Students can apply for both the MTDP and AMAP programs, but they will need to choose one to participate in, if selected. More information is available by emailing careers.ha@hawaiianair.com.
Alaska Air Group, Inc. and Hawaiian Holdings, Inc. announced in December 2023 that Alaska Airlines would acquire Hawaiian Airlines in a deal that was valued at approximately $1.9 billion, including $900 million of Hawaiian’s net debt, according to an announcement at that time. The acquisition was completed in September 2024.
The distinct Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines brands will be maintained but a singular loyalty program, Atmos Rewards, launched last month.
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Stephanie Salmons can be reached at stephanie@alohastatedaily.com.
