Hawaiian Airlines Pilots Must Shave Off Their Beards

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Hawaiian Airlines Pilots Must Shave Off Their Beards

Starting now, pilots at Hawaiian Airlines are required to shave their beards, a change that has left many feeling less than thrilled. According to AirlineGeeks, Alaska Air Group has updated its grooming standards for pilots, and Hawaiian Airlines, now part of the Alaska Air Group, is following suit. While both airlines continue to operate under their own brands, the ultimate goal is to function as a unified airline.

Changes to Appearance Policy

Beginning in April 2026, Hawaiian pilots will no longer be allowed to sport facial hair. Scott Day, the Director of Pilot Systems at Alaska, emphasized that this change is “important,” noting that “from now on, beards must meet specific requirements to ensure compliance with FAA guidelines and cockpit safety.” Under the new regulations, only mustaches will be permitted, making it clear that beards are no longer acceptable.

In a subsequent message, the company’s Executive Vice President of Flight, Dave Mets, acknowledged, “I recognize this is a significant issue for many, and I don’t want to be insensitive or ambiguous about it.” He also mentioned, “I fully understand that this policy decision may not be agreed upon by many of you, or perhaps will never be.” Mets stated that “the safest and most appropriate course is to prohibit beards in the cockpit under our unified policy.”

Safety as the Primary Concern

Why are airline pilots prohibited from having beards? Essentially, there are two main factors at play regarding the uniform and appearance standards of pilots—one being how the company wants its employees to present themselves, and the other being safety. In this case, safety takes precedence.

Regulatory agencies have long expressed concerns about the use of oxygen masks by bearded pilots, with oxygen mask manufacturers advising against facial hair in the cockpit. The reason is that beards can cause leaks when wearing masks. The FAA’s Civil Aerospace Medical Institute has recently “reaffirmed its long-standing recommendation that, for safety reasons, beards should be prohibited in the cockpit.” This is not a new debate; in fact, the FAA has had guidelines on this matter since 1987.

Cultural and Regulatory Aspects

Up until now, it seems that Hawaiian Airlines has not adhered to this recommendation, possibly due to cultural reasons. Directors at Alaska Air Group have confirmed that “there is no desire or intention to diminish the way Hawaiian Airlines culture is honored and respected within our combined company.” However, as both brands synchronize their policies, it’s understandable that Alaska would not want to forgo this requirement for its pilots.

Disagreements Surrounding the Regulation

It’s also worth noting that the safety concerns regarding masks for bearded individuals have been debated. In 2024, a study at Embry-Riddle found no evidence that beards caused mask leaks. Nevertheless, Alaska Air Group is clearly making every effort to ensure safety, despite the controversy this policy may evoke.

Real-World Experience

As Alaska Air Group implements this policy, they have also highlighted the importance of following best practices for mask use based on “our recent experience with Alaska Flight 1282, which underscored the seriousness of this topic when our pilots had to don O2 masks due to rapid decompression.”

Conclusion

As of April 2026, Hawaiian Airlines pilots will no longer be allowed to have beards, marking the end of a long-standing policy. Instead, they will only be permitted to have mustaches. This is a significant policy shift that we have seen in many airlines over the years, primarily driven by concerns about air leaks when using oxygen masks. Hawaiian seems to have retained this policy for cultural reasons, but as Alaska Air Group enforces uniform policies for its pilots, it’s not surprising that the airline is tightening these regulations. What are your thoughts on Hawaiian’s new beard policy for pilots?

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