LAS VEGAS, Aug. 14, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The pilots of Allegiant Air (NASDAQ: ALGT), represented by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 2118, announced today that they are preparing to hold a formal Vote of No Confidence in Allegiant’s current management team and its Board of Directors. The decision comes after years of repeated failures, poor strategic decisions, and reckless spending by company leadership — actions that pilots say threaten the long-term health and stability of the airline, regardless of the outcome of ongoing contract negotiations.

“Contract or not, [Maury] Gallagher and [Greg] Anderson’s management team have proven that they don’t have what it takes to lead an airline,” said Captain Kevn Winter on behalf of Local 2118. “The last several years have been failure after embarrassing failure. If pilots had even 1% of this level of failure in the flight deck, our careers would be over. It is time for management to be held accountable.”

Teamsters General President Sean O’Brien delivered a direct assessment of Allegiant’s leadership culture: “[Allegiant] management culture is toxic. It is fueled by arrogance and protected by yes men and women who could never do the pilots’ job.”

Most recently, Allegiant’s leadership has presided over a 50% collapse in the company’s market value in just six months, a $500 million loss on the failed Sunseeker Resort project, the shutdown of its GMS Racing NASCAR team, and millions wasted on unrelated ventures such as the “Allegiant Nonstop” entertainment centers. Pilots say these failures, combined with tone-deaf public relations and lavish executive perks, have eroded trust and jeopardized the airline’s future.

“We are doing this to protect the airline and the Allegiant brand that we built,” said Captain Tyler Heavey. “This management team seems ready to destroy what we’ve built because of ego and greed.”

One pilot pointed to the company’s recent base visits in private jets as the latest sign of misplaced priorities:

“Flying fancy private jets around the country to meet with pilots — just to tell them that you ‘can’t afford’ a new contract is a level of tone-deaf arrogance the industry hasn’t seen since Frank Lorenzo’s Eastern Airlines disaster in the 1990s.

“A no confidence vote is not something any Union takes lightly,” said Greg Unterseher, Trustee of Local 2118. “The pilots believe a change is necessary in the best interest of the airline, its employees, its customers, and its shareholders.” The Teamsters emphasize that the upcoming Vote of No Confidence is about more than contract talks — it is a call for new leadership and stronger corporate governance capable of ensuring the airline’s long-term stability, safety, and success.

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. Follow us on X @Teamsters and on Facebook at Facebook.com/teamsters.

Contact:
Josh Martin, (725) 308-2755
jmartin@apa2118.org

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.

 

Contact: Lena Melentijevic, (347) 208-2279 LMelentijevic@teamster.org

As the Allegiant Pilots continue their demand for an amended contract, the Allegiant Pilots Association (Teamsters Local 2118) has launched an additional informational website that details where negotiations stand and the roadblocks the company continues to present to stall the negotiations process.

The site, which can be found at www.allegiantpilotstrike.com is broken up into sections, one of which features a clock counting down the number of days without an amended contract, and another that point blank explains Allegiant Managements unacceptable tactics.   A fair and competitive, industry-standard contract is crucial to both pilots and the company. Without, Allegiant Air will not be able to attract and retain experienced pilots.  Allegiant’s current ask for scheduling concessions to help offset pay increases is a non-starter.

Without a contract in place that values our profession, pilots may have no choice but to seek employment elsewhere and are prepared to strike if released from the mediation process.  Allegiant Air continues to refuse to meet and negotiate outside of mediation, further stalling opportunities for a resolution to the pilots nearly 4-year  dispute.