Alaska Airlines
Alaska Airlines is a major U.S. carrier with a strong West Coast presence and a rapidly expanding international network. The airline serves destinations across North America, Latin America, Asia, the Pacific and Europe.
Headquarters
Seattle, WA
Pilot Bases
9
Aircraft Fleet
329
Hiring
Not Active
Aircraft Fleet & Notes
Alaska Air Group operates a combined Alaska and Hawaiian fleet across domestic, regional and long-haul international markets.
Alaska placed an order for 105 Boeing 737-10s and 5 additional Boeing 787s, with deliveries extending through 2035.
The order also includes options for 35 additional 737-10s.
The combined fleet is expected to reach approximately 475 aircraft by 2030 and more than 550 aircraft by 2035.
The Boeing 787 will support long-haul growth, with plans for up to 17 Dreamliners.
Alaska plans to serve at least 12 long-haul international destinations from Seattle by 2030.
The fleet plan supports both aircraft replacement and future growth as Alaska and Hawaiian continue integrating.
Pilot Retirements
Hiring & Career Outlook
Current hiring: Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines continue recruiting pilots across narrowbody, widebody and international operations.
Combined pilot group: Approximately 4,602 mainline pilots were employed at the end of 2025.
Minimum qualifications: Generally 1,500 total hours and 500 hours of fixed-wing turbine time.
Fleet growth: The combined fleet is expected to exceed 475 aircraft by 2030 and 550 aircraft by 2035.
Widebody growth: The Boeing 787 fleet is planned to reach 17 aircraft, supporting additional long-haul pilot positions.
International expansion: Alaska plans to serve at least 12 long-haul destinations from Seattle by 2030.
Overall outlook: Positive, supported by continued hiring, fleet expansion, international growth and the Alaska–Hawaiian integration.
Pay Notes
Lineholder guarantee: 70 hours per month.
Reserve guarantee: 75 hours for long-call reserve and 84 hours for short-call reserve.
Average daily guarantee: 5:15.5 hours.
Deadhead pay: 100% pay and credit.
International override: $6.25 per hour for Captains and $5.25 per hour for First Officers on qualifying international and ETOPS flying.
Open-time premium: 150% or 200% for designated trips.
Junior Available assignments: 200% pay.
Voluntary reserve assignments: Generally 150%, with some opportunities paying 200%.
Reassignment pay: 150%, or 200% when waiving the 5-hour late-return limit.
Delay pay: Begins after a 2-hour delay on the final leg, paid at 1 minute for every 2 additional minutes delayed.
Day-off encroachment: Restored day off, or 200% pay or 5 hours of pay per affected day, whichever is greater.
Vacation encroachment: 200% pay plus replacement vacation time.
Holiday pay: 5 additional hours for qualifying trips or reserve duty touching one of 7 contract holidays.
Per diem: Approximately $2.70 per hour domestic and $3.15 international, increasing by $0.05 annually.
Qualification training: Generally 2:50 hours per day; training periods over 15 days receive an 85-hour guarantee.
Continuing qualification training: 5 hours per day.
Distributed training: Paid at 58% of the pilot’s hourly rate.
Instructor overrides: 27% to 40%, depending on the instructor or evaluator position.
Retirement contribution: 17% company contribution for pilots hired on or after January 1, 2010.
Excess retirement contributions: Amounts above IRS limits are paid in cash.
Performance-based pay: Target payout of 5% of eligible earnings; the 2024 payout was 11.48%.
Vacation: 15 to 41 days annually, paid at 3:45 hours per day.
Sick leave: 5.5 hours per month, with a maximum bank of 1,000 hours and retirement sellback eligibility.
Pay at door closure: Pilot pay begins when the aircraft door closes.
Contract status: Alaska and Hawaiian pilots are negotiating a joint agreement, so compensation terms may change.