November 29, 2011 - Pilots for the regional airline CommutAir ratified their first-ever union contract today, winning double-digit percentage pay increases, improved scheduling rules, more time off and other improvements.

The 170 pilots of Cleveland-based CommutAir ratified a tentative agreement reached earlier this month by a margin of 78 percent, with 92 percent of eligible pilots casting ballots. The 48-month contract takes effect Dec. 1 and will become amendable in late 2015. Over the duration of the agreement, current captains can expect average increases of 30 percent in their hourly pay rate with first officers seeing increases of approximately 38 percent. The agreement also includes many new ways for pilots to accrue pay, above and beyond their scheduled flying.