For what it’s worth; our HR has done a pretty good job at hiring pilots who seems to coexist pretty well with one another, Sandi being the main component to this over the years.

So you can’t expect all face to face interviews to get hired; this is a multi million dollar career, flying multi million dollar aircraft with hundreds of passengers aboard. So yes, that’s the exact reason why he “has to” fly out, to meet and talk with the applicant and see if they are a suitable hire.

I’m sure he is a good friend, HR isn’t hiring friends. He can reapply or keep applying at other airlines; maybe take an interview prep class, and it will work out in the future.