Hawaiian Airlines has announced that in order to cut costs, it is moving much of its reservation call centre abroad, chopping as many as 250 Hawaiian jobs.
From April 15, the airline says that Hawaiian Airlines’ reservationists will likely be in the Philippines adding, that it’s nothing uncommon, with Keoni Wagner, spokesman for Hawaiian Airlines saying, “Outsourcing has emerged as one of the solutions to that for many airlines, in fact Hawaiian is one of the last airlines to sort of come along and adopt this”
Hawaiian Airlines is also shifting its information technology and accounting jobs to India to reduce costs, with Wagner adding, “The bottom line is that we have to remain competitive”.
In a plan that the airline called “groundbreaking,” the union that represents the airline workers said it agreed to the outsourcing on the basis that Hawaiian Airlines guarantees its employees a job within the company and at the same pay, adding, “We’ve given every employee the choice to either stay with the company in a different position at the same pay or take what we believe is a very attractive package and an opportunity to consider a change with employees having until April 9 to decide. Sounds a pretty good deal!
Some Hawaiian Airline employees, however, said they’re confused and lack trust in the company and their union, as they feel rushed into making a decision with after making numerous concessions over the years, some employees saying they’re feeling a shaky future in flight.
The airline said workers would stay on until operations abroad are performing up to standards.
Report by The Mole
