New York—This week, JetBlue Airways pilots, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA), served written notice to JetBlue Airways of their intent to open negotiations for a successor collective bargaining agreement (CBA), pursuant to Section 6 of the Railway Labor Act (RLA). This notice officially commences the structured process under the RLA for negotiating a new CBA.
“Making this airline a career destination for our 5,000 pilots, as well as the next generation of JetBlue pilots, should be fundamental to the airline’s business plan to move forward after the scuttled merger with Spirit Airlines and to grow and return to sustained profitability,” said Capt. Justin Houck, head of the JetBlue ALPA Master Executive Council. “That starts with a contract that properly values our pilots’ singular contribution to the current and future success of our airline.”
Last month, JetBlue Airways and Spirit Airlines agreed to end their merger agreement, which had been initiated in 2022 and became subject to a lawsuit from the Department of Justice. During that time, the JetBlue pilots negotiated a contract extension that provided immediate economic improvements to keep JetBlue pilot pay in line with the market for pilots throughout a potentially lengthy merger process. However, over the past two years, the industry standard for pilots has been raised, not only in compensation, but also in work rules, quality of life, and benefits.
“JetBlue pilots put our full contract on hold while the Company pursued the merger. We now expect the Company to come to the bargaining table prepared to negotiate terms on pay and working conditions in line with the standards and direction of the industry,” said Houck. “Today, there is no more important and necessary investment in the future success of our airline than in its professional, highly trained, and dedicated pilots.
Featured photo credit: Roman Tiraspolsky – stock.adobe.com
