Release #: JBU 18.02
April 24, 2018

JetBlue Profits Fly High—Pilot Pay Remains Grounded

Company’s profits at the top of the industry while pilots fall further behind their peers

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, JetBlue Airways pilots, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA), responded to their company’s announcement of first quarter 2018 financials by again calling on JetBlue management to provide them with a market-rate contract. Next month, the pilots will press for a contract with an informational picketing event outside the company’s headquarters at its annual shareholders meeting.

JetBlue Airways announced $110 million in gross pretax profits, adding to more than $3 billion in pretax profits since the pilots began negotiations more than three years ago. JetBlue remains the only major passenger airline in the United States that doesn’t have a contract with its pilots, resulting in bottom of the industry pay and benefits.

“As another quarter’s profits come in, JetBlue has still not answered our calls for a market-rate pilot contract,” said Capt. Patrick Walsh, chairman of the JetBlue unit of ALPA. “For the past eight years, JetBlue has been profitable, and we, the pilots, are part of that success. It’s frustrating that, despite JetBlue’s industry-leading profits for the past three years, we’ve been sitting at the same negotiating table asking for the same contract.”

Last summer, the pilots filed for mediation with the National Mediation Board in hopes of speeding up the pace of talks for a contract that includes market-rate compensation. However, nearly a year later, the pilots are still waiting.

“Each quarter, JetBlue’s profit report is a demonstration of its ability to compensate our pilots in line with their peers at other airlines who fly similar routes on similar aircraft,” continued Capt. Walsh. “JetBlue touts its culture but is letting corporate greed stand in the way of paying the market rate for pilots.”

On May 17, the pilots will gather at JetBlue Headquarters in Long Island City for an informational picketing event to deliver their message in person: It is time for a contract. Learn more at jetbluealpapilots.com.

Founded in 1931, ALPA is the world’s largest pilot union, representing more than 60,000 pilots at 34 airlines in the United States and Canada, including the more than 3,500 JetBlue Airways pilots. Visit the ALPA website at www.alpa.org or follow us on Twitter @WeAreALPA.

-###-

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