Market Intelligence: -Airline Hiring

US Airline Pilot Union Secure Industry-Leading Pilot Agreements at Two US Regional Carriers

More than 2,600 pilots at Envoy Air and Piedmont Airlines, all represented by the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA), secured industry-leading contract enhancements as part of an effort by the regional carriers to attract and retain pilots as travel demand surges. Both airlines are wholly owned subsidiaries of the American Airlines Group, the parent company for American Airlines. Union leaders from both pilot groups approved the new agreements, which position them at the top of regional airline industry in terms of pay and career advancement.

“For years, regional airlines have tried to skimp and save on the most important safety feature on any flight: experienced, well-trained and rested pilots on the flight deck. The recent groundbreaking deals at Envoy and Piedmont are an acknowledgement that this approach of shortchanging frontline workers is not working and that airlines must offer competitive compensation packages and work rules to attract and retain pilots,” said Capt. Joe DePete, ALPA president. “There are more than enough pilots in the United States to meet demand, with nearly 8,000 pilots certified in the past year alone—exceeding pre-pandemic production. What’s been missing at some carriers is competent management, competitive wages and work rules.”

ALPA has long advocated for permanent changes to salaries and work rules, warning that without these changes pilots would continue to leave for airlines that offered better pay, working conditions, and career opportunities. Several regional airlines who already took positive steps to improve pilot contracts and create career-advancement paths have been able to attract highly qualified candidates. The new Envoy and Piedmont agreements, which will extend the pilot contracts until July 2029, will similarly help with pilot hiring and retention. PSA Airlines, also an American wholly owned company, continues to negotiate with their management on similar contract gains.

Founded in 1931, ALPA is the largest airline pilot union in the world and represents more than 64,000 pilots at 39 U.S. and Canadian airlines.

Source: ALPA Press Release

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