Release #: MAG 15.01
July 24, 2015

ALPA Mesa Pilots Reach Tentative Agreement with Company

PHOENIX—Today, pilots at Mesa Airlines, Inc., represented by the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA), announced they have reached a Tentative Agreement (TA) on a new collective bargaining agreement with the management of the Phoenix-based airline. Mesa, which currently operates 112 aircraft for American Airlines/US Airways and United Airlines, employs approximately 1,100 pilots.

“This TA is the culmination of four years of very challenging negotiations,” said Captain Brian Richardson, chairman of the ALPA unit at Mesa. “Our pilots are a major factor in Mesa’s reputation of excellent operational performance. Working with the company, our negotiators were able to secure advances in virtually all areas of our contract.”

Since emerging from Chapter 11 bankruptcy in March 2011 with only 45 aircraft and fewer than 500 pilots, Mesa has more than doubled in size. The company’s rapid expansion has allowed it to largely avoid the pilot recruitment challenges faced by many of its competitors, as the additional new aircraft enabled pilots to quickly advance to higher-paying captain positions.  

“We had clear direction from our pilots,” noted Captain Scott Ewing, chairman of the pilots’ Negotiating Committee. “They wanted a contract that recognized their contributions to Mesa’s success while allowing Mesa to continue to grow and expand. Although it was far from easy, I believe we accomplished that.”  

The TA will now be reviewed in detail by the pilot group’s elected representatives at a meeting set for August 12-13 in Phoenix. If approved, the TA will then go to the entire Mesa pilot group for a ratification vote. It must be approved by a majority of the pilots to become effective. 

Founded in 1931, ALPA is the largest airline pilot union in the world and represents over 52,000 pilots at 31 U.S. and Canadian 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