ALLEGIANT PILOTS CONDEMN MASSIVE FINANCIAL LOSS, DEMAND OWED MONEY AND EXECUTIVE ACCOUNTABILITY

July 9, 2025/by Joshua Martin

ALLEGIANT PILOTS ASSOCIATION TEAMSTERS LOCAL 2118
NEWS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For Information Contact: Josh Martin, APA 2118 702-308-2755

ALLEGIANT PILOTS CONDEMN MASSIVE FINANCIAL LOSS, DEMAND OWED MONEY AND EXECUTIVE ACCOUNTABILITY

LAS VEGAS, NV – July 9, 2025 – Allegiant Air pilots, represented by Teamsters Local 2118, are calling out management after the company’s fire-sale of its Sunseeker Resort for just $200 million — a major financial blunder that resulted in a staggering $520 million loss and has pilots questioning whether an immediate executive management change is needed.Allegiant Travel Co., parent company of Allegiant Air, spent more than $720 million to build the ill-fated Florida resort, which operated for just 18 months before being offloaded to Blackstone at a 72% loss — recouping only 28 cents on the dollar.

“This wasn’t just a bad investment — it was a catastrophic miscalculation,” said Captain Rob Skiles. “And while pilots have been terminated for far less, not one executive has been held accountable. If we flew planes the way they run this company, we’d be grounded.”

A central concern is the retention bonus, estimated at over $200 million, which management committed to in order to retain pilots during a period of below-industry wages and stalled contract negotiations. Now, after four years without a deal, pilots say the security of that bonus is in serious doubt.

“We have every reason to fear our bonus will be the next fire-sale discount — if it’s ever paid at all,” said Captain Kevin Winter. “If leadership can accept 28 cents on the dollar for their own failures, we must demand full payment of what we’ve earned before it vanishes into C-suite compensation and other vanity projects.”

The Union also emphasized that pilot morale is at an all-time low, citing mounting pressure from front-line supervisors to overlook safety concerns and fly while fatigued — all while negotiations stagnate and operational demands intensify.

“We’ve been asked to do more with less while they gambled with this company’s future,” said Captain Skiles. “When those gambles failed, they turned around and blamed the Union. That’s not leadership — that’s deflection.”

Pilots also expressed frustration with the lack of corporate governance from Allegiant’s Board of so-called “Independent Directors” — including Chairman Maury Gallagher and Director Ponder Harrison, both of whom previously held leadership roles at ValuJet, the ill-fated Florida budget carrier whose history ended in tragedy. Most on the board appear to be long-time associates of Gallagher, raising serious concerns about whether true independence or accountability exists within the Board of Directors. Pilots are now calling for new leadership that prioritizes accountability, safety, and sustainable airline growth. “It’s time to take a hard look at who is leading this company,” said Winter. “We deserve a management team whose accountability matches the dedication and professionalism we bring to the flight deck every day.”

ALLEGIANT AIR WASTES MILLIONS, STILL WON’T PAY PILOTS

July 8, 2025/by Joshua Martin

For Immediate Release July 8, 2025

Teamsters Call Out Airline for Misplaced Priorities and Stalled Negotiations

(WASHINGTON) – Allegiant Air pilots represented by Teamsters Local 2118 are raising serious questions about Allegiant’s leadership after the company this week sold its failed Sunseeker Resort while continuing to stall contract negotiations for 1,400 union pilots.

The airline claims the sale of its unsuccessful hotel project signals a renewed focus on its core airline operations, but their actions tell a different story.

“Allegiant’s executives have wasted billions on failed side hustles while refusing to fairly pay the pilots who actually keep this carrier in the air,” said Teamsters General President Sean M. O’Brien. “Allegiant owes our members over $200 million in hard-earned retention bonuses. The Teamsters demand accountability and a fair contract now from this greedy, corruptible employer.”
Allegiant pilots have been stuck in negotiations for over four years. While others across the airline industry have secured pay increases and improved working conditions in recent years, Allegiant has refused to pay industry standard wages and is asking pilots to make concessions on quality of life and scheduling issues.

Since March 2021, Allegiant’s market value has decreased by 78 percent, with a current market cap of $1.3 billion. The company lost $520 million on the sale of its ill-fated Sunseeker Resort, which is equal to over half of the company’s current market value. The sale of the South Florida hotel follows a pattern of frivolous spending by the airline. With impractical ventures outside its core airline operations, from sports stadiums to luxury hotels and golf courses, Allegiant has burned millions of dollars on corporate pet projects.

Corporate financial mismanagement has left the company ill-equipped to resolve outstanding contract negotiations for pilots, but the Teamsters continue to call on Allegiant to return to the bargaining table.

“Management at Allegiant has no ability to lead this company. They have no allegiance to the hardworking, dedicated pilots,” said Greg Unterseher, Teamsters Airline Division Director, Above-the-Wing. “The Teamsters Union has zero confidence that Allegiant will bargain in good faith, but this company must be held to account. We demand they return to the table and end the disrespect of working people now.”

Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents over 1.3 million hardworking people in the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico. Visit Teamster.org for more information.

Allegiant Pilots Association
Teamsters Local 2118

International Brotherhood of Teamsters Disaster Relief Fund