Alaska Air Group is cutting jobs after a surprise loss, a mixed signal for Hawaii workers since most of the cuts are elsewhere.

• Alaska Air Group, Hawaiian Airlines' parent, cut 200 nonunion jobs after losing money in what's normally its best quarter of the year.
• Only a small number of those cuts are in Hawaii, and most of those workers are being offered other jobs with the airline.
• Terminations take effect in mid-November, but affected workers keep getting paid through the end of the year.
• Rising debt and fuel costs are squeezing the airline's finances, which is why cuts came even in a strong season.

Outlook: Watch for more cost-cutting moves if fuel prices and debt costs stay high into next year.