Mesa Airlines announced Wednesday that its pilots, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association, International (ALPA), ratified a new four-year collective bargaining agreement. The agreement will be implemented in coordination with ALPA.
“We are delighted to come to a long term collective bargaining agreement with our pilot group,” said Jonathan Ornstein, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Mesa Airlines. “The agreement is the result of a truly cooperative effort by both parties to achieve a fair and equitable contract while protecting the long term future of the company and its ability to effectively compete in the marketplace. We are especially pleased that throughout the process, all parties maintained a professional, open, and friendly relationship. The new agreement provides Mesa the tools to both attract and retain qualified and widely sought after professional pilots that we will need to remain one of the top performing and fastest expanding regional airlines in the country. It is our strong belief that there are a number of significant new opportunities for Mesa to explore now that this agreement has been put in place. I would like to thank the dedicated members of the ALPA negotiating committee, the members of the Master Executive Council, Chairman and Captain Andy Hughes, as well as the professionals at ALPA for their critical role in achieving this landmark agreement. Most of all, I’d like to thank our pilots not only for passing this new collective bargaining agreement, but for the tremendous work they do every day providing safe and reliable transportation to millions of passengers every month and their much appreciated support of Mesa Airlines.”
Over the last four years, Mesa has doubled in size and has hired over 1,000 pilots, more than any other regional airline. The new agreement will solidify the Company’s ability to support the expansion of its partnership with United Airlines, which is scheduled to add 12 new Embraer 175 aircraft in 2017 bringing the total number of aircraft operated as United Express to 80. Mesa also operates 64 aircraft under the American Eagle brand in partnership with American Airlines.
The delivery of the additional aircraft will create more than 500 new commercial aviation career opportunities. For more information, visit www.mesa-air.com.
