I didn't see anybody on that list from Buffalo Airways. What gives?

Very glad to see that they're hiring again and that locals are getting on. I never got called for an interview and I can remember getting ****ed after talking to an AS new hire, years back. He was from Skywest, less experience than me, and he REALLY wanted to work for Southwest. I'm still bitter about that.

And they probably wont be able to hold SEA for what....10 years?

Yeah, that may be true, but at least they know one day they won't have to commute. I'll be commuting (snow-birding), the rest of my life.

Maybe because Buffalo Airways primarily flies in the Northwest Territories of CANADA. The OP was commenting on a recent class at Alaska. "Alaska" as in the airline that shares its name with the 49th state of the United States.

You're not suggesting that Alaska insure that a certain percentage of their new hires are Canadian, are you?

I don't have a problem with that, eh! Mookie, get me another beer you hoser.
:)

I don't expect that. With retirements and growth, even our slow growth, I expect a class of about 10 every month from now on. That's not just my opinion. I've heard it from several management types. I been told that classes are slow right now because everyone is need on line and that they should pick up in the fall and winter.

Were you already working for AWA/US during our last hiring wave? I talked to the HR manager in charge of pilot hiring back then and she couldn't understand why a pilot would want to move from one "major" to another. She even asked me about an applicant I knew personally and asked why that person would want to leave Jetblue for Alaska (as if I could answer that question for someone).

Try not to feel too bitter about the ex-SkyWest pilot. People get hired at their second or third choice airline all the time. Perhaps that's what happened to you. Plus these past few years haven't been too kind to those on the bottom 10-15% of the list. Until our recent contract, we were making half of what SWA pilots were and we were facing furloughs or displacements. I bet if you talked to that same pilot today, he'd be singing a different tune about SWA. Things have started to stabilize around here and pilots are always happier when their seniority is moving in the right direction.

As far as the latest hiring rumors go: I talked to the SEA/PDX BCP last week. He said new-hire classes resume in August with the goal of either 60 or 66 pilots new additions by the end of the year. Next year's goal is around 140. He even hinted that we might need to use Boeing sims for the additional capacity. Like Mike said, basically, they're running 10+ new-hires per month with no end in sight.

I'm guessing, with all of this movement, new-hires should be able to get their desired base within a year. Then again, what do I know. These past 5 years have taught me that anything can happen.

Still using the "Silver Bullet" method?

No silver bullet program. I don't think you can get an interview without multiple letters attached to your applications, or a few face-to-face introductions on the job fair circuit.