Will Amend Existing Eight-Year Contract Covering 620 Pilots

Horizon Air and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT) have reached a tentative agreement to amend their existing eight-year contract for the carrier's 620 pilots. The proposed agreement gives Horizon Air the ability to attract and retain the best pilots in the regional industry through enhanced salary and bonus provisions.

"I commend the negotiations team for their efforts to reach a deal that allows us to increase our pilot recruitment efforts and offer generous entry level wages for new first officers," said Brad Lambert, Horizon Air's vice president of flight operations. "This deal will allow us to successfully compete for talent and grow our airline."

Horizon Air and IBT ratified their existing contract in January 2016. Once voted on and ratified by Horizon pilots, the Letter of Agreement will run with the current contract and becomes amendable in December 2024.

This year Horizon Air is adding 13 E175 regional jets to its existing fleet of Q400s, which provide an improved regional experience for guests. Learn more about Horizon Air's 30-jet order at newsroom.alaskaair.com.

Under the Railway Labor Act, which governs collective bargaining agreements in the airline industry, contracts do not expire. Instead they become amendable.

Horizon Air is a subsidiary of Alaska Air Group and flies to 44 cities across the United States and Canada.

(Source: Alaska Airlines news release. Image from file)

FMI: www.alaskaair.com