January 28, 2020

Alaska Airlines Pilots Respond to Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2019 Earnings, Urge Management to Negotiate a Competitive Contract

SEATTLE, Wash.—The Alaska Airlines Master Executive Council (MEC) of the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA), issued the following statement in response to Alaska Air Group’s fourth quarter and 2019 full year earnings report, which stated an adjusted pretax profit of $1.054 billion, making this the airline’s eleventh consecutive year of profits.

“On behalf of all pilots of Alaska Airlines, we congratulate all fellow employees for their professionalism and hard work that earned us a 7.05 percent performance bonus payment for 2019. The pilots’ dedication and commitment to this airline was on display all year, despite a surge in contract compliance issues and operational challenges.

“The Alaska Airlines pilots have been in contract talks with management for more than nine months, as we seek long-overdue improvements to quality of life, work rules, job security, career satisfaction, and retirement and insurance. We have seen our peers at other airlines enjoy prominent gains in these areas, while the demand for commercial airline pilots only continues to grow. With profit margins above industry average, it’s time for Alaska Airlines management to recognize that to attract and retain well qualified, professional pilots, this airline must offer a market-rate contract to pilots..

“We look forward to a timely and successful outcome that recognizes our contributions to this company’s success and are hopeful and optimistic that management will work to resolve the outstanding contract issues with us.”

Founded in 1931, ALPA is the largest airline pilot union in the world and represents more than 63,000 pilots at 35 U.S. and Canadian airlines, including more than 3,100 mainline pilots at Alaska Airlines. Visit the ALPA website at www.alpa.org or follow us on Twitter @WeAreALPA.

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CONTACT: ALPA Media, 703-481-4440 or Media@alpa.org