LIHUE — Hawaiian Airlines held an open house Wednesday for former Island Air employees who lost their jobs after the airline’s recent shutdown.
Half a dozen former Island Air agents waited outside the airport’s Mezzanine Conference Room dressed to impress with resumes in hand.
The applicants declined to comment to The Garden Island when asked about Island Air’s closure and its impact on them and their families.
“We just wrapped up the open house in Lihue,” said Alex Da Silva, senior manager of external communications for Hawaiian Airlines. “Our recruiters spoke with 14 former Island Air employees based on Kauai.”
About 400 Island Air employees lost their jobs when the airline closed after 37 years of interisland service. About 25 were on Kauai.
Hawaiian Airlines managers provided the former employees with information about career opportunities and helped guide them through the application process.
After applicants registered online, 20-minute interview sessions were scheduled for multiple positions at the Lihue Airport.
“On Kauai, we are recruiting for ramp and customer service positions, but we are encouraging job seekers to review all opportunities listed on our careers site,” Da Silva said.
Job seekers attending the fair were also able to meet representatives with Ohana by Hawaiian, which is operated by Empire Airlines and offers passenger and cargo service to Oahu, Lanai, Molokai and Kapalua in West Maui.
Hawaiian Airlines has future plans to expand operations at the Lihue Airport, Da Silva said.
He said their seasonal, nonstop, wide-body flight offered between Oakland and Kauai will resume April 11 as a daily A321neo flight.
Hawaiian Airlines will be posting additional job openings on its recruitment website.
