Thirty Large Regional Airliners Will Be Placed In Service With The Airline

PSA pilots, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA), have ratified tentative agreements reached with the managements of PSA Airlines and its parent company, US Airways Group Inc. that guarantee the placement of 30 large regional jets at PSA. With 85.99 percent of eligible pilots casting their ballots, 61 percent voted in favor of the agreements.

“These agreements secure substantially enhanced opportunities for our pilots to progress to our mainline partner and job protections for them here at PSA, while also protecting the core of our compensation and work rules, which fosters a better environment for PSA to attract new-hire pilots,” said Capt. Jesse Coeling, chairman of ALPA’s PSA Master Executive Council (MEC). The agreements are contingent on the merger of US Airways Group and AMR Corporation by December 31, 2015.

The agreements include a commitment by US Airways Group to place a minimum of 30 large regional jets on the PSA operating certificate. PSA pilots will also be granted seniority-based interviews and guaranteed additional job offers at US Airways. In exchange, PSA pilots agreed to pay adjustments, changes to medical premiums, and an extension of their contract to 2023. Coming six months to the day after the pilots ratified a new contract, the agreements also provide PSA pilots with greater job security at PSA, furlough protections, and opportunities for first officers to upgrade to captain positions more quickly.

“This decision was not an easy one for the pilots or for the MEC. The MEC thoroughly evaluated the current state of the industry—especially the regional sector—as well as economic and hiring forecasts for the near and long terms, taking into consideration the demographics of the pilot group. We also took a hard look at the challenges facing wholly owned airlines like PSA,” Coeling said. “Ultimately, we concluded that it was in our pilots’ best interests—now, and in the future—to accept the agreement and recommend that PSA pilots vote in favor of it.”

FMI: www.alpa.org