Horizon Air, the regional airline subsidiary of Alaska Air Group, is now creating new career pathways for aspiring pilots in Hawai‘i with its innovative Horizon Air pilot training program. The initiative, the first of its kind in the state, allows students to complete their training locally without the need to leave the islands, easing financial burdens and streamlining entry into commercial aviation.
Local Aspiring Pilots in Hawai‘i’s Aviation Industry and Horizon Air Pilot Training
Horizon Air’s Pilot Development Program offers Hawai‘i students a structured pathway to becoming professional pilots, with the potential to join Horizon Air upon completion. Additionally, participants can train at local flight schools at their own pace while receiving substantial financial and professional support. The program includes:
- A $12,500 flight training stipend
- A conditional job offer at Horizon Air upon graduation and meeting hiring requirements
- Pilot mentorship and networking opportunities
- Exclusive access to company events
- Personalised support throughout training
More than 430 students nationwide are currently enrolled in Horizon Air’s Pilot Development Program. Horizon Air employs nearly 3,500 people and operates a fleet of 44 Embraer E-175 jets, serving over 50 destinations across the West Coast and beyond. The airline’s crew bases are located in Anchorage, Alaska; Boise, Idaho; Everett, Seattle, and Spokane, Washington; and Portland and Medford, Oregon.
Bringing Hawai‘i Pilots Home
Carlos Zendejas, Vice President of flight operations for Horizon Air , shared:
We are very excited to provide pilots from Hawai‘i not only an opportunity to join us at Horizon but also a path to eventually come home to Hawai‘i to fly the rest of their careers.
Later he added :
Horizon’s seven pilot bases and the communities we serve in the Pacific Northwest and beyond offer students some incredible flying experiences while they build their time.
Anais Rodriguez, a student pilot at Pacific Flight Academy, emphasised the program’s impact:
Being born and raised in Hawai‘i, it was always my goal to be able to serve my community here at home.This program is a game-changing opportunity – one that has never existed before – for aspiring pilots from across Hawai‘i to be able to train right here in the state and potentially advance into careers with a world-class airline.
Hawai‘i Leadership Backs the Program
Yesterday, employees from Horizon Air, Alaska Airlines, and Hawaiian Airlines gathered at Pacific Flight Academy in Honolulu alongside Hawai‘i Lt. Governor Sylvia Luke and nearly 60 student pilots. However, the academy was co-founded by Hawaiian Airlines Airbus A330 First Officer Babak Nikkhoo. Furthermore, reinforcing the program’s commitment to developing homegrown talent.
The aviation sector plays a crucial role in keeping Hawaii’s residents and islands connected to the world,” said Lt. Governor Luke. “By training and retaining homegrown pilots, this program strengthens the future of air travel to and from our islands. Investing in local students through Horizon Air not only supports Hawaii’s economy but also empowers the next generation of pilots.
As Horizon Air continues to expand to support it’s training program and the global networks of Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines, it anticipates a steady need for skilled pilots. By investing in local talent, the program ensures a sustainable future for aviation in Hawai‘i while providing invaluable opportunities for aspiring pilots within the state to commercial aviation.
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