Horizon Air CEO Shares Workforce Pipeline Views With ATEC Delegates

Horizon Air's technical workforce development strategy leans into one of the airline's major challenges and leverages it as a strength, offering aspiring mechanics a pathway to a long-term, major-airline career, its top executive shared in an ATEC Annual Conference keynote address March 30.

Regional airlines are often an entry point for newly certified airframe & powerplant (A&P) mechanics. The carriers are where many technicians gain their first real-world airline experience. Such experience makes A&Ps attractive to larger airlines.

Alaska Air Group offers mechanics ways to move up without moving out, Horizon Air President and CEO Andy Schneider told ATEC delegates.

"If someone chooses to move on from Horizon to Alaska Airlines via one of our pathways programs, we celebrate them," Schneider said. "We know they are not just building a job, but a career."

Alaska Air Group's pathways feed each of its carriers. Horizon benefits from a technician development program that provides financial assistance to prospective students working towards A&P certification. The number of students in the program varies based on Horizon's projected needs. In the last two years, the program has provided more than 90% of Horizon's new mechanic hires.

The airline's pipeline development efforts extend down to kindergarten. A variety of school visits and field trips are offered to students, with the goals of providing exposure and perhaps sparking a longer-term interest in an aviation technical career.

"Every carrier at Alaska Air Group has established programs in the schools that encourage engagement and foster long term careers with maintenance and engineering," Schneider said. "As commercial aviation grows, we know there are workforce challenges, and it is our responsibility to inspire the next generation of technicians."

Schneider kicked off the ATEC 2026 Annual Conference in Portland. Alaska Air Group is the event's host and presenting sponsor.