Horizon Air pilots say yes to bring jets back

WILMINGTON, Ohio – Horizon Air and the pilots began negotiations for an amended contract last April, completing the tentative agreement in December 2015.

WILMINGTON, Ohio – Horizon Air and the pilots began negotiations for an amended contract last April, completing the tentative agreement in December 2015. The agreement was presented to the airline’s pilots in a series of meetings which were held throughout the month of January. Voting closed earlier today, January 29.

The Horizon Air pilots, represented by the Airline Professionals Association (APA) Teamsters Local 1224, voted 352-161 to ratify an agreement that will bring jet flying back to Horizon Air.

The vote closed just a week following Alaska Air Group’s announcement that it expects to place an order for 30 large regional jets in the first quarter of 2016. The contractual changes ratified in the agreement will not take effect until Horizon Air starts flying regional jets in revenue service. It is estimated the first revenue flight will be early 2017.

The newly ratified contract not only creates an avenue for Alaska Air Group (AAG) to grow its fleet, but also contains exclusive scope language for the 30 aircraft to be delivered. The agreement further maintains pilot pay rates, provides for pay increases throughout the life of the agreement and also provides for the implementation of a preferential bid system (PBS) with language that is the best in the regional industry and is on a par with that at major airlines. The union reports that it will immediately appoint a committee to research and select a PBS vendor.

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Linda Hohnholz

Editor in chief for eTurboNews based in the eTN HQ.

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