The Alaska Pilots Podcast

ALA-HAL TA: Section 4 – Vacancies

Vacancies determine how pilots change from flying one aircraft type to another, how they change bases, and when they upgrade from First Officer to Captain. Our new ALA-HA

ALA-HAL TA: Section 3 – Compensation

In this episode of our Tentative Agreement (TA) explainer series, our Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) members explain how our pay rates were determined, what new pay ov

ALA-HAL TA: Section 1 – Scope

In our first episode breaking down specific sections of our new ALA-HAL Tentative Agreement (TA), Joint Negotiating Committee members David Wilhelm and Brandon West discu

ALA-HAL TA: Overview

The Alaska and Hawaiian MECs have approved a Tentative Agreement (TA) for a new Joint Collective Bargaining Agreement. Now the TA heads to the pilot group for their consi

ALA-HAL: JCBA Negotiations Update (Sept. 2026)

On Labor Day, the Alaska-Hawaiian Joint Negotiating Committee met for the latest round of bargaining with Alaska management. While some progress was made, there are still

ALA-HAL: Grievance and Contract Enforcement

One of the core functions of a labor organization is ensuring the contract is appropriately enforced. In this episode, ALA Grievance Chair Larry Freer and HAL Grievance C

JCBA Update & Fleet Announcement

18 months into JCBA negotiations, talks have slowed with key sticking points around pay banding for larger narrowbodies, vacation and sick leave provisions, and other cos

JCBA Update: Where We Are and What Remains

In this episode of the Alaska Pilots Podcast, MEC Chair Drew Coyle and NC Chair David Wilhelm provide a Joint Collective Bargaining Agreement (JCBA) update. They discuss

ALPA's Role Behind the KEF Launch

This Alaska Pilots Podcast episode takes us behind the scenes of what happens when Alaska Airlines announces a new destination. Using Keflavík as the example, we walk thr

Where We Stand/Officer Update

In this episode of the Alaska Pilots Podcast, hear about a general overview of the state of the union, updates on the JCBA/merger, and associated timelines. Some other in

San Diego Base & Bid

This episode goes into details about the San Diego base, how it came to be, and the contractual language that is associated with vacancy and displacement bids. Joining th

ALA-HAL: State of the Merger After SOC

With Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines attaining Single Operating Certificate (SOC) status at the end of October, the two airlines are now a single carrier from the FAA’s pers

Summer 2025 State of the Union

In this episode, Communication Chair Kyle Johnson sits down with MEC Chair Will McQuillen and Executive Admin Drew Coyle. This is a summer update highlighting important i

ALA-HAL: Aircraft Orders, New Base, and JCBA

In this episode, our Alaska and Hawaiian MEC Chairs, Will McQuillen and Larry Payne, sat down to provide their thoughts on the recent announcements about the Seattle 787

2025 Mid Year Update

In this episode, Communication Chair Kyle Johnson sits down with MEC Chair Will McQuillen, Executive Admin Drew Coyle, and Negotiating Committee Chair David Wilhelm. A mi

ALA-HAL Merger Status Update (May 2025)

In this episode, our Alaska and Hawaiian MEC Chairs, Will McQuillen and Larry Payne, as well as our Joint Negotiating Committee Co-Chairs, David Wilhelm and Doug Grant, a

Joint MEC Meeting, Merger Update, and OTRPB

In this episode, Communications Chair Kyle Johnson sits down with MEC Chairman Will McQuillen, Executive Admin Drew Coyle, and Negotiation Chair David Wilhelm to discuss

Merger Update

In this episode, Host Strategic Communications Chair David Campbell discusses updates about the merger between Alaska Airlines and  Hawaiian Airlines with MEC Chair Will

Meet the Negotiating Committee Chairs of the Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines Pilots

With the merger transaction between Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines now final, the separate pilot groups from each carrier will continue the process of combining into one. A

First Joint Alaska/Hawaiian MEC Episode

In this episode, Co-hosts Alaska Communications Chair David Campbell and Hawaiian Communications Chair Mike Davis interview Alaska MEC Chair Will McQuillen and Hawaiian M