Alaska Air to Cut 200 Management Jobs as Losses Mount

Dana Whitfield · 2026-10-31T01:21:22.182Z

It's tough seeing management jobs cut in Washington and Hawaii, but sparing frontline staff makes sense when fuel costs keep rising.

Alaska Air to Cut 200 Management Jobs as Losses Mount — © IJR

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Alaska Air Group said Friday, Oct. 30, 2026, it will eliminate about 200 non-contract management and back-office jobs. The cuts include 125 positions in Washington and 48 in Hawaii. Last working day is Nov. 13; pay runs through Dec. 31. The company lost $416 million in the first nine months after a $79 million profit a year earlier and forecasts an annual adjusted pretax loss of as much as $700 million, plus a fourth-quarter adjusted loss of $2 to $2.50 per share against an LSEG estimate of $1.04. In a memo, CEO Ben Minicucci wrote: "To remain competitive and emerge from this challenging period stronger, we must continue investing in our fleet, guest experience, capacity and network." He added the company "must return to the financial discipline that has long been a key competitive advantage. That means taking a hard look at overhead." A company statement said: "We recognize the impact these decisions have on our employees and their families, and we are deeply grateful for the contributions they have made." No factual dispute appears among the sources on the numbers, dates, or scope. Pilots, flight attendants, airport guest services, and maintenance and engineering employees are not affected. What remains open is whether further cuts follow and how the fuel and geopolitical pressures cited by the company evolve.