Union Update Regarding ABE Fleet Transition

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Allegiant Pilots,

We want to provide a general update regarding the Company’s announcement about a planned fleet transition at the Allentown (ABE) base.

The Company approached the Union last week, and the Union is aware and actively engaged while following the appropriate contractual and legal processes. After reviewing data and projections, the Union declined the Company’s request to implement this transition through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).

Any displacement or position changes related to fleet transitions are governed by Section 12.L of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, which provides clear protections for pilots, including advance notice, seniority-based displacement rights, bidding opportunities, and pay based on awarded positions.

Seniority protections remain a top priority in any fleet transition where a base remains open. The Union continues to monitor developments and is prepared to take action, including filing a group grievance if necessary.

A more detailed update has been sent directly to ABE-based pilots. We will continue to keep the pilot group informed as this process develops.

Questions may be directed to the Executive Board at executiveboard@apa2118.org.

In Unity,

APA Local 2118

Negotiating Committee Update – January 30, 2026

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Fellow Pilots,

A great deal has transpired over the past several weeks regarding negotiations, not the least of which was a change within the Negotiating Committee. These changes have brought a fresh set of eyes and perspectives to the team. However, something that has not changed and continues to be true is that we are all Allegiant pilots, and we share the same frustrations this group has collectively experienced over the last several years. Although there was a partial change in personnel, we intend to build on the foundation built by the previous members of the team by fighting for and achieving a contract worthy of this pilot group.

As was mentioned in the previous negotiating update the NC held mediated meetings with the company on January 14 and 15 in Las Vegas. At those sessions, the Company expressed an interest in meeting more frequently, to include outside of mediation, with the stated goal of reaching a tentative agreement in the near term. This is welcome news! More frequent meetings are a must if we want to close out these negotiations. However, make no mistake, this team remains deliberate in pursuing a collective bargaining agreement that reflects the hard work and dedication this pilot group deserves.

To that end, we will meet the company February 9-12 at Allegiant Headquarters in Las Vegas. These meetings will focus primarily on PBS and Section 15 (Scheduling) in hopes of breaking through the deadlock on the outstanding items in those sections. All parties agree that resolving the outstanding scheduling issues is a critical step toward achieving a tentative agreement and establishing a clear path forward. That is what we intend to do.

The last few weeks since the formation of the new team, has been spent getting the new members of the team (Captain John McDonald, Captain Scott Whitman, and Captain Byron Girmscheid) up to speed, to include a thorough briefing on our extensive negotiating history, detailed procedures on NavBlue PBS technical operations, relevant industry PBS agreements, and other negotiation-specific housekeeping items.

Shortly before our last mediated negotiation session, Allegiant announced the acquisition of Sun Country Airlines. We understand this announcement has generated numerous questions, many of which will be answered by Union Leadership over the next few weeks. However, from a negotiations standpoint, the Company has expressed an interest in achieving a standalone Allegiant collective bargaining agreement prior to any joint collective bargaining processes with our brothers and sisters at Sun Country.

What does this mean for Allegiant pilots? We believe this development may serve as a strong motivator for the Company to negotiate in good faith and finally fulfill the commitments repeatedly made to this pilot group. As a team, we share varying degrees of cautious optimism regarding the transaction. We are standing by to work with the company to craft an agreement that works for both the company and this pilot group.

Look for our next update following the in-person negotiating sessions scheduled for February 9-12. You are the lifeblood of our industry-leading airline, and your continued commitment to the operation deserves to be recognized and compensated accordingly. This team will fight to ensure that happens.

Below you will find introductions to the new members of the Negotiating Committee. If you have questions or concerns, please email negotiations@apa2118.org.

In Unity,

Negotiating Committee
Allegiant Air Pilots
Teamsters APA Local 2118

Captain Scott Whitman
My name is Captain Scott Whitman and I am one of the newest members of the Negotiating Committee and a twenty-two year veteran at Allegiant. I have been a previous Negotiating Chairman and I am familiar with the process and the task ahead. I look forward to representing the Allegiant Pilots and achieving the industry standard contract that we have fought for and deserve.

Captain Byron Girmscheid
My name is Captain Byron Girmscheid, and I have been entrusted by our newly elected Executive Board to serve as a Negotiator in the fight for the contract we all deserve as Allegiant Pilots. I have proudly served this pilot group in multiple roles within our Local Union, including six years as a Steward. I also bring over ten years of experience at Allegiant, having flown as a First Officer and Captain on the MD-80 and currently as a Captain on the Airbus. Throughout my career here, I have had the opportunity to work across nearly every corner of our operation, with bases in VBD, VPS, and now AVL. I am energized by the newly formed team and cautiously optimistic about what lies ahead. I take this responsibility seriously and will always fight for this pilot group. Your professionalism, dedication, and commitment to this career continue to inspire me, and I am honored to represent you at the negotiating table. Speaking for myself, I believe this team brings a wide range of perspectives and technical expertise that will be invaluable as we move forward.

Captain John McDonald
My name is John McDonald, and I am a captain based in Cincinnati. I began my career with Allegiant in August of 2015, and I am honored to serve on this negotiating team. I am fully committed to representing you, my fellow pilots, and to fighting for the contract we have earned and deserve. Your voices have been heard, and my responsibility is to carry them forward. This has been a long and hard-fought battle, driven by the dedication of many before me. While I am new to this team, I share that same commitment and will continue the work necessary to see this effort through. I understand that our airline and our operation are unique—but our jobs as aviators are not. We deserve a contract that stands on par with our brothers and sisters across the industry. You recognize that, and so do we. Together, we will secure a contract we deserve and one we can be proud of.

Executive Board Update – January 30, 2026

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In This Update:

Allegiant & Sun Country Merger Update

While officer training was the primary focus of the week, the Executive Board also dedicated significant time to preparation related to the Allegiant–Sun Country merger. We met with legal experts who specialize in airline mergers, along with our union economist, labor counsel, advisors, and IBT leadership, to address key merger-related considerations.

These discussions covered areas such as costing, negotiation strategy, duty of fair representation, and the handling of grievances and disciplinary matters. The goal of this work is to ensure a thoughtful, well-coordinated approach as we move from planning to execution, with a clear focus on representing Allegiant pilots effectively and protecting their interests throughout the merger process.

Committees Update 

Committee volunteers are the heart of our Union and crucial to our success. With over 20 committees and more than 90 committee volunteers, it is easy to overlook progress and lose sight of priorities. We have implemented a new structure to help open the lines of communication between our committees and the elected leadership. Our goal is to ensure bi-directional communication and support where needed. A member of the Executive Board has been appointed to each committee, serving as a conduit for communication between the elected officers and the committee itself. As our first step to bolster information sharing, we will be hosting regular meetings with the committees, the first of which took place this week.

Negotiations Update

Our next scheduled negotiation session will take place February 9–12 in Las Vegas. We remain fully committed to securing an agreement that meets the expectations of our pilots as quickly as possible. All parties involved in negotiations, our Negotiating Committee members, the Executive Board, legal counsel, and our Trustee, are aligned and prepared to bring negotiations to an end. Look out for a individual update this evening from the Negotiating Committee.

Pilot Townhall Meeting

We look forward to connecting with you and will be hosting a pilot town hall meeting on February 18, with the time to be announced. This town hall will be conducted as a Zoom meeting and will provide a comprehensive update on the merger. To ensure the discussion addresses the topics most important to the pilot group, we will be collecting questions in advance. The Zoom link and instructions for submitting questions, will be emailed to the pilot group. Please keep an eye on your inbox for the link to register for the townhall.

Trusteeship & Executive Board Officer Training 

Last week, your newly elected Executive Board officers completed a week of intensive training in Las Vegas. This training focused on ensuring the Local Union is properly governed and well positioned as we move forward following trusteeship. Additional New Officer Training with the International is scheduled for the week of February 9 in Washington, DC. During this period, the Executive Board has also met with legal counsel, advisors, and other union professionals to review required rules, procedures, and best practices.

Questions – We are always here! 

We would like to remind you that our union’s committee structure is designed to address a broad range of workplace matters, including safety, jumpseat access, and professional standards.

When an issue arises, best practice is to begin with the Union Committee most closely aligned with your concern. In particular, the Stewards Committee is one of the most valuable resources available to our pilot group and is often an excellent starting point if you are unsure where to seek assistance. Additionally, the virtual door to your Executive Board officers is always open. Contact us at any time by email at executiveboard@apa2118.org. We appreciate the trust you have placed in us and look forward to continuing to serve you.

 

Fraternally,

Ryan Joseph, President elect
Gregory Harris, Secretary-Treasurer elect
Hansel Duran, Vice President elect
Fihmi Rossman, Recording Secretary elect
Brandon Wood, Trustee elect
Genie Moy, Trustee elect
Barron Howard, Trustee elect

Executive Board
APA Teamsters Local 2118