Allegiant Air Pilots Seek Mediation Release, Strike Looms

(WASHINGTON) – Allegiant Air pilots represented by Teamsters Local 2118 have formally requested that the National Mediation Board (NMB) release them from mediation with the airline, a move that could set the stage for a potential strike. The union, which represents approximately 1,400 pilots, cites ongoing frustrations with the company’s inability to address critical contract issues as the driving force behind the request.

If the NMB grants the request, binding arbitration may be offered to resolve outstanding disputes between the pilots and Allegiant Air. In the event that either party declines arbitration, a 30-day “cooling-off” period will commence, after which pilots could legally initiate a strike. Last November, an overwhelming 97 percent of Allegiant pilots voted in favor of a strike authorization, a reflection of their deep disappointment with the company’s handling of negotiations.

“Since we began negotiations, our goal has been simple: secure a contract that ensures long-term success and security for both our pilots and Allegiant Air,” Captain Josh Allen, Chair of the Negotiating Committee for Local 2118, expressed. “And every step of the way, Allegiant has refused to offer us that.”

Despite over two years of mediated discussions, significant unresolved issues remain, particularly regarding pilot scheduling as stipulated in the collective bargaining agreement. Allegiant’s latest proposals would classify about 20 percent of pilots as surplus while requiring the remaining pilots to adhere to maximum flight schedules. This has raised serious concerns about pilot fatigue, operational reliability, and overall quality of life.

Frustration among the pilots was palpable during a recent picket outside Asheville Regional Airport, where they braved freezing temperatures to voice their grievances over four years without a new contract. Union members noted that even with some of the highest profit margins in the airline industry, Allegiant Air has failed to meet the current demands of the profession.

“It’s impossible to make progress when the company keeps moving the goalposts and demanding more ‘efficiencies’ from an already-stretched pilot group,” said Greg Unterseher, a Trustee of Local 2118. “Each time our pilots rise to meet the company’s needs with good-faith proposals, Allegiant shifts direction again. Enough is enough—it’s time for Allegiant to finally deliver the fair contract its pilots have earned.”

Teamsters Local 2118 represents 1,400 dedicated Allegiant Air pilots nationwide, striving for improved work conditions and equitable compensation as they negotiate with the airline.