Over the past six years, Mesa Airlines has added more than 70 planes, touting their arrivals to the media and their employees. Meanwhile, the pilots continue to wait for a new contract, one that will bring them up to the industry average in total compensation. Currently, first officers make less than half of some of their peers at other airlines flying similar routes on similar aircraft. The shortfalls continue up through the seniority. Mesa pilots haven’t had a raise in pay since 2008.
On Thursday, February 23, Mesa pilots, joined by fellow pilots from United, FedEx, Spirit, Envoy, and Air Transport International, held an informational picket outside Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport to put pressure on the company to come to the table with a fair and equitable contract.
“We’ve been waiting too long for a new contract that brings us in line with our peers at other airlines,” said Capt. Andy Hughes, chairman of the Mesa branch of ALPA. “While these talks drag out, our pilots fall further and further behind in pay rates and benefits. Mesa pilots have earned a contract that fully recognizes our contributions to the success of the airline. We’ve waited long enough.”