Airline to delay layoffs through at least September

Hawaiian Airlines has delayed any potential layoffs or furloughs through at least September, though the carrier said it may not have to resort to job cuts thanks in part to the extension of the Payroll Support Program, the increase in travel and the number of people getting vaccinated.

Airline spokesperson Alex Da Silva said Monday that staff were notified earlier this month about the delay in layoffs and of the Payroll Support Program extension, which offered more financial assistance to air carriers nationwide as they recover from the impacts of COVID-19.

The airline industry had received about $32 billion in federal aid to help with employee wages, salaries and benefits through the initial program under the CARES Act.

Hawaiian Airlines told the state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations in January that with the relief program set to expire March 31, the company would have to lay off more than 800 employees across Hawaii starting in April, including 781 at the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu, nine at the Kahului Airport, seven each at the Kailua-Kona and Lihue airports and six at the Hilo Airport.

Civil Beat reported earlier this month that the airline planned to delay the first wave of layoffs until May 1 but was continuing to analyze the situation.

“We are hopeful that we won’t have to consider furloughs as demand continues to improve with more people getting vaccinated and feeling confident to travel again,” Da Silva said Monday.