A Major Shift at Hawaiian Airlines

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A Major Shift at Hawaiian Airlines

The pilots of Hawaiian Airlines will no longer be allowed to sport facial hair, a decision that has stirred discontent among some. This news comes from AirlineGeeks, as Hawaiian Airlines integrates into the Alaska Air Group.

Upgrading Uniform Standards

Hawaiian and Alaska Air Group are in the process of merging their workforce. While both brands will continue to operate independently for the time being, the ultimate goal is for these airlines to function as a single entity. As a result, Alaska Air Group is rolling out new uniform and appearance standards for pilots.

Starting in April 2026, Hawaiian pilots will be prohibited from having beards. Scott Day, Alaska's Director of Flight Operations, described this change as “significant,” stating that “from now on, facial hair must meet specific requirements to comply with FAA guidelines and ensure safety in the cockpit. Beards will not be allowed.” However, mustaches will still be permitted, with the restriction solely applying to beards.

Leadership's Perspective

In a separate message, Dave Mets, Executive Vice President of Flight Operations, stressed, “I recognize this is an important issue for many and I don’t want to come across as indifferent or vague about it.” He added, “I fully understand that this is a policy decision that many of you may disagree with and may never agree with.”

He also pointed out that “the safest and most compliant path we can take is to prohibit beards in the cockpit as part of our uniform policy.”

Why Are Pilots Prohibited from Having Beards?

There are two main reasons behind the uniform and appearance standards for pilots — how the company wants its employees to present themselves and safety. In this case, safety appears to be the primary concern. Regulators have long been worried about the use of oxygen masks by bearded pilots, with oxygen mask manufacturers advising against facial hair while flying.

The main concern is that beards can cause mask leaks. The FAA’s Civil Aerospace Medical Institute has recently “reaffirmed the long-standing recommendation that, for safety reasons, beards should not be allowed in the cockpit.” This is not a new debate; in fact, the FAA has had guidelines on this issue since 1987.

Cultural Impact and New Policies

To date, Hawaiian may have chosen not to adhere to this recommendation, potentially due to cultural reasons. This is why executives from Alaska Air Group assert they “absolutely do not want to undermine the value of how Hawaiian Airlines and/or Hawaiian culture is celebrated and respected within our company.”

However, as both brands synchronize their policies, it seems reasonable that Alaska would not want to eliminate this requirement for its pilots.

Research and Safety

It’s worth noting that concerns regarding the safety of masks for those with beards have also been debated. In 2024, a study from Embry-Riddle found no evidence that beards caused mask leaks. Nonetheless, Alaska Air Group clearly prefers to err on the side of caution, even if this stance is somewhat controversial.

In implementing this policy, Alaska executives also emphasized the importance of adhering to best practices with masks based on their recent experience with Alaska Flight 1282, during which pilots had to wear oxygen masks due to a rapid loss of cabin pressure.

Summary

Beginning in April 2026, Hawaiian Airlines pilots will no longer be allowed to have beards, marking the end of a policy that has lasted for decades. Instead, they will only be permitted to have mustaches. Ultimately, this is a policy shift that many airlines have made over the years, with the primary concern still being air leaks when using oxygen masks.

While Hawaiian appears to have maintained this policy for cultural reasons, it’s no surprise that Alaska Air Group has tightened these regulations as they establish unified policies for their pilots.

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