ALPA’s PSA pilots have ratified the tentative agreement reached with the management of PSA Airlines, a wholly-owned subsidiary of US Airways Group, Inc. With nearly 80 percent of eligible pilots casting their ballots on Wednesday, 78 percent voted in favor of the new collective bargaining agreement.

The five-year contract includes quality-of-life gains, pay increases, and opportunities for PSA pilots to progress to US Airways mainline, while maintaining important current benefits such as health insurance and retirement.

“With this agreement, we achieved much-needed improvements for our pilots, while also creating opportunities to help secure a competitive position for PSA well into the future,” said PSA MEC chairman Capt. Jesse Coeling. “Since 2009 when we began negotiations, we never wavered in our commitment to obtaining a contract that provides appropriate compensation for PSA pilots. After all, their contributions play a major role in making our airline one of the best performing express operations in the US Airways system.”

The new contract also provides the necessary stability for PSA’s and US Airways’ continued success going forward. The result of nearly four years of negotiations, the CBA takes effect on April 1.

Just last Friday, the pilots of fellow US Airways wholly-owned subsidiary Piedmont ratified their new labor contract.