Allegiant Pilot Contract Pdf

[Gerald Weiß]

Whilepilots at most airlines are negotiating new contracts with work rule improvements, Allegiant pilots just want their carrier to assign flights by seniority. While most pilots negotiate how much they will fly in joint ventures with other carriers, Allegiant pilots worry they could lose flying to a new Mexican partner. And while most pilots want to match Delta pay rates, Allegiant pilots just like to think they can get close to Delta.

The latest favorable ruling for pilots came March 30th from a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. The panel reaffirmed rulings by a board of three arbitrators and a district court.

Contract talks have been slowed not only by the continuing battle over seniority but also by approximately 4,000 pending grievance cases. Most relate to the seniority dispute, while others relate to pay issues. Grievance hearings are scheduled through the end of 2024, Robles said.

Allegiant management has intentionally delayed contract negotiations for more than two years by putting forth wage proposals that fall well short of industry standard, resulting in severe recruitment and retention issues as highly qualified pilots search elsewhere for better pay and benefits. Now, Teamster pilots are fed up and making their voices heard.

Meanwhile, after subjecting pilots to unnecessary furloughs during the COVID-19 pandemic, Allegiant has showered its executives with stock grants, accelerated vesting, and new employment contracts. The company recently invested more than half a billion dollars on a luxury hotel in Florida.

Las Vegas-based Allegiant Air and its pilots have been in contract negotiations for a few years, with pilots demanding wages and work rules that meet industry standards, said Capt. Andrew Robles, president of the Allegiant Pilots Association, or Teamsters Local 2118.

Robles said every airline, even regional carriers, pay their pilots more than Allegiant, making him and his colleagues the lowest paid Airbus pilots in the industry. Their goal with picketing is to bring attention to their struggle, he said, and make the company see the need for industry-standard wages and work rules.

Allegiant Air was once among the most regularly profitable airlines in the world. Then came the pandemic and in the third quarter, when almost every U.S. carrier made money, the discounter joined only Hawaiian Airlines in posting a loss.

To be clear, the third quarter tends to be an offpeak period for Allegiant, whose Sun Belt-heavy destinations tend to do better in cold weather months. Still, the airline did a lot better in the September quarter of 2019 this past quarter.

For now, priority number one for Allegiant is securing a new pilot contract. The airline is negotiating with flight attendants, too. New contracts with higher pay would help ensure the staffing it needs for the capacity growth it is planning. That includes the new Boeing 737 Maxes that Allegiant ordered in January. As things stand now, they are due to start arriving next October. But delays are a concern, as is the uncertified status so far of the 737-7 it ordered. Allegiant also has firm commitments for 20 -8200s.

Pilots of Allegiant Air have initiated a card drive aimed at petitioning the National Mediation Board (NMB) to conduct a representation election seeking to decertify their current representation under the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT) Local 2118 and elect the Air Line Pilots Association, International (ALPA) as their new representative.

Over the past decade, Allegiant pilots have faced numerous challenges with their current representation including emergency trusteeship, prolonged contract negotiations, inadequate training for Local 2118 committees, significant arbitration losses, rushed elections, insufficient resources, financial irresponsibility, and a strained union-management relationship. 2023 and 2024 have marked a breaking point for many pilots amidst a contentious electoral process, turnover of negotiating teams leading to inadequate progress on a new pilot contract, and leadership changes prompted by investigatory findings, leading to widespread disenfranchisement among the pilot group.

ALPA, known for its industry-leading contracts, robust pilot representation, effective lobbying efforts, and advancements in pilot safety and aeromedical work, offers Allegiant pilots a proven track record of advocacy and support. By electing ALPA, Allegiant pilots aim to establish stronger representation that aligns with their professional needs and aspirations, ensuring a secure career path and supporting the airline's ambitious growth plans.

Allegiant Air employs nearly 1,500 pilots at 24 pilot bases across the United States, with ongoing pilot hiring to prepare for the addition of up to 130 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft to its existing fleet of 126 Airbus A320 and A319 aircraft. Allegiant recently earned the number-three spot on the 2024 J.D. Power List of Top North American Airlines. The airline is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Teamsters Local 2118 representative Kurt Hanson said, for over two years, Allegiant management has intentionally delayed contract negotiations, putting forth wage proposals that fall far short of industry standards.

On March 30, the court reviewed the private arbitration that occurred between Allegiant and the union regarding the collective bargaining agreement between the pilots and the airline and affirmed an arbitration award to the Teamsters, finding the airline violated its labor contract.

The incident in June was one of many over the summer that brought unflattering attention to Allegiant. The Teamsters union, which is trying to negotiate Allegiant pilots' first union contract, has publicized the events and accused the airline of cutting corners on safety.

On June 8, Jason Kinzer was the captain of an Allegiant Air jet with 141 passengers scheduled to fly from St. Petersburg, Florida, to Hagerstown, Maryland. Minutes after takeoff, Kinzer says, flight attendants called the cockpit to report smelling smoke, so he declared an emergency and returned to the airport.

Kinzer said he rolled to the end of the runway, where the plane was met by emergency vehicles. According to a transcript of airport radio transmissions, a fire-and-rescue worker detected smoke coming from one of the two engines on the McDonnell Douglas MD-80.

Kinzer told airport officials he planned to evacuate the plane. On the recording, someone can be heard telling the pilot to wait, but the person didn't identify himself or give a reason for the delay. Kinzer then ordered passengers to evacuate.

In a July 23 termination letter, Allegiant chief pilot Mark Grock told Kinzer that he "ordered an evacuation that was entirely unwarranted and ... compromised the safety of your crew and your passengers and led directly to the injuries."

Kinzer said he first learned of his dismissal in an earlier phone call during which a personnel staffer said he was being fired because the flight was one of several incidents that brought negative attention to Allegiant. He did not record the call, and Allegiant spokeswoman Kimberly Schaefer disputed that the airline would fire someone over an issue of "public perception." She said terminations are made only after thorough investigations.

Todd Curtis, a former Boeing safety engineer who runs a safety foundation, said crews may have to act quickly and with incomplete information. He said that airlines shouldn't second-guess crews unless there is strong evidence that the evacuation was ordered "for reasons that had nothing to do with safety."

Bryan Dougherty, a passenger, said once the Allegiant captain gave the evacuation order, "It was pure mayhem. Everybody was pushing everybody." He said an older woman who was pushed down a chute by a flight attendant wound up going to the hospital.

Dougherty said he didn't smell smoke before the evacuation but that others sitting in the back of the plane did. He didn't think it was necessary to use emergency slides, but added, "I'm no airline expert."

With a growing fleet, several domiciles across the United States, and a business model that allows you to be home every night, Allegiant provides a one-of-a-kind opportunity to let you soar, both professionally and personally. As the heart of our Allegiant team, our Pilots are passionate about service, dedicated to safety, and always put our customers first.

For those who share our passion for aviation and innovation within the industry, Allegiant develops pilots to be true leaders by giving you opportunities to be an active part of our operation. Allegiant has grown to over 100 all-Airbus aircraft, 129 cities, and 580 routes. We are excited for our bright future ahead.

Allegiant has aggressive growth plans for the next 5 years. This growth includes adding planes to our fleet, new bases, new cities, new routes and new opportunities for our Team Members. In many crew bases, seniority can be reached in just a few years along with enhanced opportunities to move into the left seat.

Ready to join an amazing team of 1,000+ pilots and bring your passion for flying to the Allegiant team? As an Employer of Choice, we want to be transparent with our requirements and interview process. After applying, these are the next steps:

EEO Statement: Allegiant provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, immigration status, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

Accessibility Accommodation: All candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to any characteristics protected by law. We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace where everyone is valued, treated with dignity and respect, and empowered to do their best work. If you need accommodation for any part of the application process because of a medical condition or disability, please send an email to recru...@allegiantair.com to let us know the nature of your request.

3a8082e126