Hawkair recession

[Monorail Conductor]

My first airline. A great place to work amidst a tough economic climate. People were all a class act. Best of luck to all. Whoever scoops up these crews will have some top quality ppl on their rosters.

[William B]

Yes - Hawkair is officially bankrupt, employees were pink slipped Nov 18. Maybe some people in the NorthWest will think twice about abandoning a local carrier after the encore scabs showed up here to do the Alcan project. Enjoy your 1000 dollar round trips YXT YVR suckers.

[William B]

Does anyone out there who works for CMA or it's affiliates know what sort of knock on effect the bankruptcy of Hawkair will have on CMA?

[plhought]

[Self-Redacted - wasn't very tasteful]

Any of the YVR gang send me a PM

[JBI]

Yes - Hawkair is officially bankrupt, employees were pink slipped Nov 18. Maybe some people in the NorthWest will think twice about abandoning a local carrier after the encore scabs showed up here to do the Alcan project. Enjoy your 1000 dollar round trips YXT YVR suckers.

From an earlier post http://www.terracestandard.com/news/394420851.html

Hawkair suspended its Smithers to Vancouver once before reviving it but cancelled it again in mid-2015 and in late 2015 announced it was suspending its Prince Rupert service.

Last I checked, Encore has never flown to Smithers or Prince Rupert.

Also, the information that I've been able to find online suggests that the pay at Encore is better than it was at Hawkair and from speaking with friends at both, the working conditions were better as well.

While it's disappointing that an airline has gone under and a good group of employees have lost their jobs, suggesting that Encore pilots are 'scabs' and/or Hawkair's closure was primarily a result of competition with Encore is a rather ignorant opinion. There were a significant number of issues involved with Hawkair's demise and while competition played a part, it was hardly the main factor.

[William B]

Yes - Hawkair is officially bankrupt, employees were pink slipped Nov 18. Maybe some people in the NorthWest will think twice about abandoning a local carrier after the encore scabs showed up here to do the Alcan project. Enjoy your 1000 dollar round trips YXT YVR suckers.

From an earlier post http://www.terracestandard.com/news/394420851.html

Hawkair suspended its Smithers to Vancouver once before reviving it but cancelled it again in mid-2015 and in late 2015 announced it was suspending its Prince Rupert service.

Last I checked, Encore has never flown to Smithers or Prince Rupert.

Also, the information that I've been able to find online suggests that the pay at Encore is better than it was at Hawkair and from speaking with friends at both, the working conditions were better as well.

While it's disappointing that an airline has gone under and a good group of employees have lost their jobs, suggesting that Encore pilots are 'scabs' and/or Hawkair's closure was primarily a result of competition with Encore is a rather ignorant opinion. There were a significant number of issues involved with Hawkair's demise and while competition played a part, it was hardly the main factor.

Your link is beyond outdated. Hawkair is finished, not just as far as it's sked runs, 20 odd Terrace employees are out of work as of Friday plus a number of others at various bases, mostly YVR and a couple out of YYD. I didn't say encore pilots were scabs, I was referring to the entire company and particularly westjet - they are all scabs.
As an aside, I totally agree - Jay was great at making flowery speeches full of hyperbole and hot air. He was also good at pondering his desk and the quality of his shoe shine.

[GRK2]

Scab: A strike breaker, or a "scab" is a person who works despite an ongoing strike. Strikebreakers (or Scabs) are usually individuals who are not employed by the company prior to the dispute, but rather, hired after the stoppage to keep the organization running.

How on earth would you equate any West Jet employees as strike breakers is beyond me...maybe you have a hate on for them as you feel they've stolen your work (despite no evidence beyond your own thoughts) but "Scabs"? All of them? Not a chance. I'm not a West Jet employee and have no ties to them in any way, and despite not agreeing with some of the ways they go about their business, I have to admire their success in the Canadian market. Tough way to make a living!

[doorsclosedlightsout]

Last I checked, Encore has never flown to Smithers or Prince Rupert.

Also, the information that I've been able to find online suggests that the pay at Encore is better than it was at Hawkair and from speaking with friends at both, the working conditions were better as well.

While it's disappointing that an airline has gone under and a good group of employees have lost their jobs, suggesting that Encore pilots are 'scabs' and/or Hawkair's closure was primarily a result of competition with Encore is a rather ignorant opinion. There were a significant number of issues involved with Hawkair's demise and while competition played a part, it was hardly the main factor.

I don't know anything about Encore pilots being scabs, but pay and working conditions were certainly better at Hawkair.

Hawkair Schedule - 15 days a month which included several reserve days which you were unlikely to be called in for
Encore Schedule - 20 days a month

Hawkair starting FO/Captain Pay - 37000/63000 a year or 205/350 a day
Encore Starting FO/Captain Pay at Minimum Hour guarantee - 31920/57120 or 133/238 a day.

Encores arrival into Terrace did have an effect on Hawkairs loads out of Smithers and Prince Rupert as prices were so cheap people would drive over to Terrace just to take advantage of the $100 fare.

[.80@410]

Your link is beyond outdated. Hawkair is finished, not just as far as it's sked runs, 20 odd Terrace employees are out of work as of Friday plus a number of others at various bases, mostly YVR and a couple out of YYD. I didn't say encore pilots were scabs, I was referring to the entire company and particularly westjet - they are all scabs.
As an aside, I totally agree - Jay was great at making flowery speeches full of hyperbole and hot air. He was also good at pondering his desk and the quality of his shoe shine.

William B , you are an ignorant, moronic idiot .

The more you post, the dumber we all become .

[William B]

Yes - lets all bow and worship at the feet of the allmighty westjet down at YYC. You're probably down there every morning bowing obeisance and drooling to the WJ logo and allah. Whatever the case, you are all on cool aid. The economy is sunk, we are in depression mode. Hawkair's demise was certainly hugely hastened by WJ's arrival (that was the moment Alcan or "rio tinto alcan" as it's known, another bunch of scabs owned by the world bank and rothschilds, started hiring foreign workers to complete it's modernization). This of course took up hundreds of seat miles flying these scab workers back and forth from Thailand or wherever to screw BC residents out of jobs. This is along the same lines as the Peace River dam project for which Hydro is hiring TFW's so that BC residents can get screwed over some more. Ah well, all great fun until someone puts an eye out.
BTW mr .80.. ad hominem attacks are a low point of debate.

[Meatservo]

A "scab" is an employee who undermines his fellow employees by being willing to work while the majority of fellow employees are refusing to do so on point of principle as part of an attempt to ameliorate their circumstances. The "scab" helps the employer by directly undermining the employees in this circumstance.

An employee of a rival airline can hardly be considered a "scab". What are they supposed to do- tell their employer they refuse to work, because of solidarity with the employees of the competition?

Hate Westjet if you must, but I don't think their employees qualify as "scabs". I personally hate "Wal-Mart" because they put a lot of nice little stores out of business when they come into town peddling their cheap Chinese garbage and howdy-doody American business practices, but you can hardly blame their employees for working there when they become the only place to work for many retail people in smaller cities.

As for this "Jay" character, I wonder where he is going to end up? You couldn't look up anything to do with Hawkair without seeing a bunch of weird Tweets and blog-style updates from that guy.

[A V I A T O]

CMA and NT air will likely take over the hawkair flying. It all went into the same bucket as far as I know. So it appears you have an instance of a unionized company (hawkair) being dissolved and having its flying distributed out to its non-unionized counterparts. On the social media front, twitter feed and facebook still remain silent on commenting on the closure.

[Rookie50]

Curious what the difference is between Walmart and our great canadian duopolys in airlines, cable, cellular Ect who engage in predatory pricing to kill competition. I'm a pro business guy but that is wrong behaviour and Canada has always ignored it.

NOTE: "generalized comment here"

We need rules in certain industries to protect smaller players, IMO. We are not the US with the population to support a true free and fair market everywhere.

IE Rogers should be forced to lease, fair to cheaply, space on their towers to smaller competitors. Unfair? Tough cookies. Best interests of the country.


We need more of that (favour smaller players) to allow more regionals to thrive, in many industries.

[JBI]

Hawkair Schedule - 15 days a month which included several reserve days which you were unlikely to be called in for
Encore Schedule - 20 days a month

Hawkair starting FO/Captain Pay - 37000/63000 a year or 205/350 a day
Encore Starting FO/Captain Pay at Minimum Hour guarantee - 31920/57120 or 133/238 a day.

Encores arrival into Terrace did have an effect on Hawkairs loads out of Smithers and Prince Rupert as prices were so cheap people would drive over to Terrace just to take advantage of the $100 fare.

Encore is currently 19 days a month max scheduled days. I understand the average is 16 to 17 days.
Also, starting FO/Captain pay at min monthly guarantee is actually $39,000 and $69,400.

I'm not suggesting that the above conditions are amazing but I wanted to make sure the proper information was out there. My condolences to all at Hawkair who lost their jobs.

[McKinley]

Hi JBI,

Do what is your source regarding encore pay? I've heard people regularly work 19 days per month. Additionally, if you want to earn a reasonable wage ( 40 K) you need to take additional days.

I have a tough time believing that pay is lower at Hawkair.

By in large, from what I hear, you are home most of the days you worked at Hawk. No commuting necessary. In my opionion, the schedule seems far more suitable for a family at Hawkair .

Hawkair as an airline will be missed by everyone. Best of luck to all who are affected by this..

[coldandwet]

Long time EX employee here. Yes the Hawk is dead and we were dealt with in a very impolite manner. Declaring Bankruptcy at 2:00 pm before the 4:00 deadline screwing the employees out of their last paycheque was a really unclassy move. Especially after saying you would step up and forward part of the government sponsored WEPP cash to help everyone out was an even bigger slap. Granted the economic times are hard up here but this company turned into a horribly managed operation that was unsustainable.
This company used to be awesome and gave the people a break on connection and airfare throughout the Northwest, it gave alot of local people employment and things were tough but it was worth it. Constantly fighting with Jazz and then Westjet is just a matter of evolution and we could no longer compete but I still believe things could have been handled better with alot less newage management ideas......But today was the final day that I was walking through the doors not to return and will have to figure out the next chapter of my life. I gave alot to this company after 16 years and in the end noone cared and it got me nowhere, I just hope that I am not too jaded to allow myself to commit to another cause.
Too all the business people in our community please do not harp and bitch at me to support local business because you had youre chance and chose elewhere...To all my ex employee friends I wish everyone who knows me the best and hope this will pass.

[airprofessor]

coldandwet

First rule of thumb is to never trust anyone, ever.

J.D. and J.L. took you for a ride and left you and everyone else in the ditch when it came down to it.

So sorry for you and everyone else. NW BC will never again have a local airline of the caliber it once was.

[lastchance]

Interesting to see what will happen to J.D and J.L as things unfold.

[McKinley]

Coldandwet,

It was a pleasure working with you as well.

Take care of yourself

[Monorail Conductor]

Hi JBI,

Do what is your source regarding encore pay? I've heard people regularly work 19 days per month. Additionally, if you want to earn a reasonable wage ( 40 K) you need to take additional days.

I have a tough time believing that pay is lower at Hawkair.

By in large, from what I hear, you are home most of the days you worked at Hawk. No commuting necessary. In my opionion, the schedule seems far more suitable for a family at Hawkair .

Hawkair as an airline will be missed by everyone. Best of luck to all who are affected by this..

Sched at hawk was 13 GDOs per month. Lifestyle was great for families. Gone few nights per month. WAWCON at Hawk > Encore, based on sched, and a good home life. While i dont , doubt the long term stability, and sizable economic war chests of jazz and WJE, youd be hard pressed to find a better dash gig, in BC no less, that offered the lifestyle you could immediately get as a jr FO.

[McKinley]

Hello Monorail,

Yes, I know...we may have have crossed paths.

Again.. truly very sad for everyone...

[airprofessor]

Good News though, the name 'Hawk Air' lives on in Northern Ontario!

Http://www.hawkair.com

[arctic_slim]

Hi JBI,

Do what is your source regarding encore pay? I've heard people regularly work 19 days per month. Additionally, if you want to earn a reasonable wage ( 40 K) you need to take additional days.

I have a tough time believing that pay is lower at Hawkair.

By in large, from what I hear, you are home most of the days you worked at Hawk. No commuting necessary. In my opionion, the schedule seems far more suitable for a family at Hawkair .

Hawkair as an airline will be missed by everyone. Best of luck to all who are affected by this..

You might have a tough time believing that but those are the numbers. I can confirm that too. Not sure about per diems and bonuses at Hawkair but if you include those at Encore your pay is closer to 50k for year 1, and that's without factoring in the employee share plan contributions (10% match). But of course as you mentioned Encore guys work more days a month.

Anyway, I've heard Hawkair was a good company to work for. Terrible news for the people that worked there, I hope they can all find new jobs quick.