Frontier Airlines, pilots union nearing new contract terms
Nov 12, 2018, 2:30 PM
(AP File Photo)
(AP File Photo)
PHOENIX — A potential pilots’ strike against low-fare carrier Frontier Airlines was likely averted Monday, after the sides reached an “agreement in principle” that would include better pay.
Frontier, owned by Phoenix-based Indigo Partners, and the Air Line Pilots Association had been in talks for more than two years over salaries, benefits and schedules.
A statement from the union said its executive council had to look over the deal and then will decide whether to send it to pilots for a vote.
Pilots said in September they were prepared to strike over the issues.
Frontier pilots have been working under a contract negotiated while their airline was in bankruptcy.
Pilots picketed across the U.S., stopping by some of the cities on Frontier’s routes in a “strike bus.” Phoenix was on the list.
Capt. Alan Christie, a spokesman for Frontier’s pilots, told KTAR News 92.3 FM in late October the airline had refused to negotiate in good faith.
Christie said pilots agreed to reductions in pay and benefits to keep the Denver-based airline going after it filed for bankruptcy in 2008.
“Without us offering those pay and benefit concessions, the airline would have, frankly, gone out of business,” he said.
Now that the airline was back on its feet, Christie said the pilots were asking for fair market compensation.
He said starting pay for new pilots at Frontier was around $35,000. Christie told the Tampa Bay Times new JetBlue pilots could expect to start at $65,000.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
