New Conditions Grant 25-22% Pay Increase, Improved Work Rules

The Air Line Pilots Association has completed its work with CommutAir, bringing forth a new collective bargaining agreement that goes into effect March 2nd.

Over 83% of the CommutAir pilot base voted on the new contract, with an impressive 92% voting in favor of ratification. The 4-year agreement will improve nearly every facet of a pilot's CommutAir career: An increase in pay rates, better retirement, more time off, and higher quality of life. The new agreement nets a 25% pay bump for captains, and 32% for first officers, an impressive boost that should go a long way in retaining skilled pilots at the firm. Additional travel benefits with commuting reimbursement, maternity leave, and improved work rules for reserve pilots round out the rest of the niceties. Best of all, the contract includes provisions for increasing pay (at management's discretion, but better than nothing) up to 25%. 

The agreement is the result of longstanding work that began in the early days of 2019 only to stall out in response to the industry's lockdowns and uneven schedule through 2020. Negotiations resumed in May of 2021, with a tentative agreement finalized in early February. The vote has made it clear that CommuteAir pilots wholeheartedly endorse the deal, and, luckily for them, it goes into effect on March 2nd. 

“This agreement is the result of not only hard work and dedication by our Negotiating Committee, but also reflects a readiness to cooperate during these tough times and demonstrates the unmatched unity of the CommutAir pilot group," said Captain Earl Blowers, chairman of the CommutAir ALPA master executive council. “Our pilot membership made clear that their priorities for the coming years included pay and quality of life, and our Negotiating Committee delivered,” said Blowers. “This new agreement brings pilot quality of life in line with their peers.”

FMI: www.alpa.org,