This message is for pre-merger Hawaiian Flight Attendants

Yesterday, we learned the heartbreaking news that Spirit Airlines permanently ceased operations, immediately affecting some 17,000 employees, including approximately 5,500 AFA Flight Attendants. Anyone who has experienced or even been around an airline shutdown knows how devastating it can be to the airline’s employees and their loved-ones. Spirit’s story could have been our story in the mid 1990’s, as Hawaiian teetered on the edge of bankruptcy and liquidation. Sadly, it was Aloha’s story in 2008. Although most people will move on and move forward with their lives, for many of them – many with stories untold – things will never be the same. Our hearts go out to all of them.

The Spirit AFA leaders that we have met and had the privilege to work with through AFA are hard-working professionals who are dedicated to raising the standards of our profession. There are so many similarities between our two groups. As AFA International President Sara Nelson wrote, “We will have more to say about the amazing Spirit AFA members who have inspired us with their stories, determination, and solidarity… Spirit has been a part of our AFA family and we will fly with Spirit Forever.”

In Solidarity,
Martin Gusman & Kela Chong

Council 43 Election & Candidates Forum

The Alaska-Hawaiian Council 43 elections are upon us. Local Council Officers will need to be elected for the term beginning on July 1, 2026, and ending on June 30, 2029, as provided by the AFA-CWA Constitution & Bylaws. Voting notices with credentials to access the electronic ballot were mailed on April 30, 2026, and voting will begin on Tuesday, May 5, 2026.

To support and facilitate our Union’s democratic election process, Council 43’s Communications Committee will be hosting a Candidates Forum on Monday, May 4, 2026, (tomorrow) at 1200 HST. Please use this link to register for the meeting, using your personal email address that is on file with AFA. Please note that only members in good standing will be allowed to vote in the election. You may check your membership standing by going to the AFA Membership Hub.

AFA elections are governed by procedures outlined in the Association’s Constitution & Bylaws, Article VIII and the AFA Policy Manual. For more information, please visit afacwa-elections.org.

Dues in Arrears – Overdue Dues Payments

This is a reminder that a Flight Attendant needs to be in good standing in order to vote in an election or vote on a tentative agreement that is up for ratification. A member in good standing is a Flight Attendant who is either current with their AFA dues or has worked out a payment plan for outstanding dues with the AFA-CWA membership department. If you’ve taken a leave of absence in recent years, or have dropped all your trips and did not receive any pay in a month, there is a good chance that an automatic dues deduction was missed. Email reminders will be sent to Flight Attendants with outstanding dues balances later this week. If you have a question about your membership status, please email our Local Membership Chairperson, Phyllis Lau, at phyllis.lau@afahawaiian.org, or your Local Officers at hnl@afahawaiian.org .

Jumpseat Policy Concerns

We have heard from some of you that there may be problems with the new Jumpseat Policy that was implemented at PSS. An issue that came to light involves Flight Attendants jumpseating from foreign stations and the inability to secure a boarding pass without a seat assignment. Even if a Flight Attendant is able to secure a boarding pass for the jumpseat at D-30 (thirty minutes prior to departure), it may not be enough time to get through security and immigration and get to the gate before departure.

Section 30.G.1. of our contract provides that the Company and the Association shall mutually agree on procedures for assignment of cabin jump seat authority. That did not happen. The Alaska-Hawaiian MEC is looking to resolve these issues as quickly as possible and is prepared to file a grievance if it is necessary.

Reserve Webinar

The Council 43 Communications Committee is inviting everyone to join Reserve Committee Co-Chairpersons Sasha Kahele-Manners and Joni Pak for a Reserve webinar on Wednesday, May 5, 2026 @ 1100 HST. Sasha and Joni will be there to let you know about the current state of reserve operations and answer your reserve-related questions. Please be sure to register and feel free to submit your questions prior to the webinar.

Wednesday’s webinar will mark the one-year anniversary of Council 43’s webinars. A big mahalo to the Communications Committee (Chairperson Mikioi Vericalla, Joyce Foley, and Soon Kim) for hosting these events, and to Sasha and Joni who kicked all of this off with their first Reserve Webinar a year ago! We would also like to extend a heartfelt mahalo to all the committee chairpersons and committee members who worked hard to make the webinars a success over the past year! Mahalo!

Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month

May is Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage month – a month-long celebration that recognizes and acknowledges the history, culture, achievements and contributions of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders to American society. In recognition and celebration of AAPI month, AFA offers AAPI pins for you to proudly wear on your uniform. Ask one of your Local Officers (or email us at hnl@afahawaiian.org ) for a pin!

Updated Council 43 Committee Roster

Our Council 43 Roster has been updated and moved to its new home at the Alaska-Hawaiian AFA website (afaalaska.org), and may be found on the HNL Council 43 Committee page (https://afaalaska.org/hnl/committees). Please bookmark the page for future reference. In addition you’ll find our 2025 Contract Extension as well as the 2025 SEA Domicile LOA.

May Events

This message is for pre-merger Hawaiian Flight Attendants

Webinar Series turns one, thanks for a great year!

Join us for our next Reserve Webinar:

May 6, 2026 (Wednesday)
1100 – 1200 HST
Panelists: Sasha & Joni – LEC 43 Reserve Committee Co-Chairs

REGISTER HERE >>>

Stay up-to-date about the current state of Reserve operations.

Learn about Contract provisions that affect Reserve Flight Attendants.

Get answers to your Reserve-related questions!

This Reserve Webinar brings us full circle to complete one year of being able to connect AFA Hawaiian members with Union Leadership.

There was no shortage of operational changes and challenges since the first Reserve Webinar on May 7, 2025. The abrupt changes since our last Reserve Webinar (in March) added to that list.

Reserve Flight Attendants minimize operational disruptions, cover for us when we can’t make it to work, and complete staffing complements to reduce the strain on working crew during non-normal operations.

MAHALO FOR SHOWING UP!!

We are grateful for the opportunity to meet everyone in flight, during lounge sits, and by way of these Webinars. We look forward to future Webinars and the opportunity to answer more of your questions.

In Solidarity,
LEC 43 Communications Committee

REGISTER HERE >>>