Travelers Concerned About Disruptions During Holiday Season

Pilots at Denver, Colorado-based Frontier Airlines voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike in the event negotiations prove fruitless, according to Captain Micheal Maynard, chairman of the Air Line Pilot’s Association (ALPA).

Maynard said about 97% of the carrier’s pilots participated in the vote and of those, 99% voted in favor of a strike if it becomes necessary. Captain Alan Christie of Frontier said negotiations have been going on for about a year, and the last time Frontier’s 2,200 pilots got a new deal was nearly five and a half years ago.

“This is one step along the way,” he said. “The industry has moved on since our last contract. A strike is a last-ditch measure. It’s not something that we want to do. It’s highly disruptive to families. It’s highly disruptive to the airline and, more importantly, to our pilots.”

Maynard added, “Our ultimate goal remains to reach a fair agreement with the company, not to strike. However, this vote equips our master executive council with a significant lever should we need to exercise it.”

The Frontier pilots are asking for better compensation, improved job security, better retirement benefits, and improved quality of life.

The pilots cannot strike legally until a National Mediation Board determines mediation is no longer productive. In that case, both sides are given the option of arbitration. If that is declined, a 30-day “cooling off” period would ensue. Only after that would a strike be imminent.

Frontier spokesperson Rob Harris said in a statement, "Frontier remains committed to negotiating in good faith to achieve an agreement that supports our pilots and ensures the continued success of our company.”

FMI:  www.flyfrontier.com/