Negotiating Update (5/27/24)

Dear Fellow Pilots,

Recent Bargaining Session Overview

Your Negotiating Committee recently concluded an in-person bargaining session in Las Vegas. Unfortunately, we could not meet on Monday’s scheduled half-day due to the mediator’s delayed travel from the East Coast, but we maximized our time together on the remaining days (21st-23rd).

After extensive preparation, we met with the company and had comprehensive discussions on Section 15—Scheduling, Section 16—Reserves, and the relevant parts of Section 14—Hours of Service. These sections are the three key pillars of Quality of Life (QOL) and the areas where you expect significant improvements from the “current book.”

Progress and Discussions

During our sessions, we presented comprehensive and functional solutions to rectify our scheduling challenges and greatly improve the QOL of our pilots moving forward. We are all aware that our current CBI/solver solution has substantial shortcomings. We proposed comprehensive solutions to significantly enhance our quality of life while we continue to pursue a true Preferential Bidding System (PBS) solution that fits our joint needs.

Looking Forward to Collaborative Solutions

In the upcoming week, we will meet jointly with the company and a potential PBS software vendor to demonstrate the software and further discuss scheduling solutions. This is a significant step towards a more collaborative, solution-based bargaining environment.

Company’s Timeline and Our Commitment

The company has indicated that they wish to conclude negotiations within the remaining scheduled mediation dates. They have repeatedly stated that they wish to reach a full Tentative Agreement (TA) on all sections before the end of June. While your Negotiating Committee believes that an expeditious consensus would be a favorable outcome, we also believe that achieving a TA within this limited timeframe is ambitious, considering the vast amount of scheduling concerns that have yet to be resolved.

If the company is genuinely prepared to both acknowledge and rectify the significant issues surrounding the three major pillars of QOL—Scheduling, Reserve, and Hours of Service—and is willing to make the necessary improvements swiftly, then a condensed timeline may be possible. Regardless of artificial timelines that the company may want to impose, we know what our pilot group expects of us and will not sacrifice quality for speed.

Conclusion

Our goal is to reach a complete Tentative Agreement based on the membership’s objectives that we can all be proud of and that results in Allegiant becoming a destination airline. We remain cautiously optimistic about our upcoming bargaining sessions and are committed to securing the best possible agreement as expeditiously as the process will allow.

Thank you for your continued support.

In Unity,

Captain Joshua Allen
Negotiating Committee Chairman

Captain Jay Killen
Pilot Negotiator

Captain J.R. Lynch
Chief of Staff

Captain Jim Cole
Recording Analyst