For the second straight year of the COVID-19 pandemic, ALPA pilots continued to navigate challenging times. They endured a beleaguered aviation industry throughout 2021 as the virus persisted and morphed into new, more transmittable variants.

The Association’s engagement with members of Congress and Parliament to pass billions of dollars of worker-centric airline relief helped to save thousands of jobs at individual airlines and ensure a safe working environment for these essential frontline workers. As North America reopened its borders to international travel, airlines began to restore much of their lost operations. ALPA pilot groups negotiated numerous beneficial agreements with management, and the pilots of Cargojet, Flair Airlines, and Western Global joined the Association, further fortifying its membership and time-tested reputation as the preeminent voice of the airline piloting profession.

However, the impact of the lingering pandemic generated new challenges that continue into 2022, including far too many instances of unruly passenger behavior and special-interest groups that intend to undermine safety in all aspects of the airline industry.

Find out how the union’s more than 62,000 pilots at 38 U.S. and Canadian airlines worked to fulfill their responsibilities as frontline transportation workers and keep their airlines flying during an ongoing world health crisis.