Release #: JBU 23.01
January 30, 2023
JetBlue Pilots Approve Contract Extension
New York—Today, JetBlue Airways pilots, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA), have overwhelmingly approved a two-year contract extension that provides a compensation increase of 21.5 percent over 18 months, as well as other monetary improvements. With 95 percent of eligible pilots participating, 75 percent voted in favor of ratifying the tentative agreement reached in December.
“This contract extension provides unprecedented pay increases for JetBlue pilots across the board and recognizes the contributions of JetBlue pilots to the success of this airline, including the planned merger with Spirit Airlines,” said Capt. Chris Kenney, chair of the JetBlue unit of ALPA. “As JetBlue pursues this merger, this agreement protects the career expectations of JetBlue pilots while the market for pilots rises.”
In September 2022, the Company and JetBlue pilots entered expedited, short-term contract extension negotiations focused on achieving immediate economic improvements. On December 14, the two parties reached a tentative agreement that provided the pilots with three rate increases and a market rate adjustment that ensures JetBlue pilot pay remains in line with any compensation gains achieved by their peers at other airlines. JetBlue is currently in a potentially lengthy merger process. The agreement ratified today puts JetBlue pilots in a strong position for future negotiations for either a joint collective bargaining agreement with the pilots at Spirit Airlines or, should the merger fail to conclude, a comprehensive standalone collective bargaining agreement.
“We entered into these negotiations recognizing that mergers take time and our pilots couldn’t wait for the compensation improvements they have earned,” continued Kenney. “As pilots at several other airlines continue to negotiate new contracts, this agreement puts the JetBlue pilots with our peers at the top of the industry.”
Founded in 1931, ALPA is the largest airline pilot union in the world and represents more than 67,000 pilots at 39 U.S. and Canadian airlines. Visit ALPA.org or follow us on Twitter @ALPAPilots.
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CONTACT: ALPA Media, 703-481-4440 or Media@alpa.org