THE AIRLINE MARKET IS IN A WONDERFUL CONDITION FOR INVESTMENT – TAKE THE PLUNGE
13th June 2012
Southwest Airlines Pilots Association (SWAPA) has approved a five year contract with Southwest Airlines that will see its nearly 11,000 pilots' pay rise by 44.4% by 2028. Pay will increase immediately by 29.15% with incremental increases of 4% in 2025, 2026, and 2027; followed by a 3.25% increase at the end of the contract. Nearly 93% of SWAPA pilots voted in favour of the contract.
The contract became amendable in 2020 and over three years of negotiations followed.
"This has been a long time coming and it is only through the unity of our pilot group that we were able to achieve the gains in this contract," said SWAPA president Captain Casey Murray. "This new CBA [collective bargaining agreement] will bring our pilots the security and protections that have been long needed."
Southwest Airlines VP of labour relations Adam Carlisle commented that "this agreement justly rewards our pilots and supports our operational needs." Murray added: "we will work with Southwest to make sure that all of the changes that improve our pilots’ quality of life take place as quickly as possible."
The contract will also provide pilots with compensation, modified scheduling practices, paid maternity and parental leave, with an opportunity for an additional extended bonding leave. Furthermore, the contract includes a new process for Southwest to recover its pilot network if necessary.