Release #: ALA-VRD 16.01
December 16, 2016

Union Representing Alaska and Virgin America Pilots Reaches Agreement with Alaska Management on Process to Negotiate Joint Contract

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The elected leaders of the Alaska Airlines and Virgin America pilots, both represented by the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA), voted yesterday afternoon to accept a Transition and Process Agreement (TPA) with Alaska management that will define the process for negotiating a joint collective bargaining agreement. The announcement comes a week after the Department of Justice (DOJ) approved Alaska Air Group's acquisition of Virgin America, clearing the path for the merger of the two companies, and making it the fifth largest passenger airline in the United States. 

The Virgin America and Alaska Master Executive Councils, who represent the pilots of both airlines, issued the following statement:  

“We have been in joint negotiations for several months and are pleased to have finally reached an agreement with Alaska management that provides job protections for our pilots during the merger and a timeline to reach a joint collective bargaining agreement. 

“Alaska and Virgin America’s pilots remain committed to fully protecting the security, stability, and career interests for all of our pilots while building a world-class airline. 

“Reaching an agreement on a process to negotiate a contract that brings the professional pilots of Virgin America and Alaska together, under one contract, is an important first step toward creating one pilot group. The next step is to negotiate a joint contract for the merged airline that recognizes the valuable role that our pilots play in this partnership. Those negotiations are scheduled to begin next month.”

Founded in 1931, ALPA is the largest airline pilot union in the world and represents over 54,000 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