Southwest Airlines pilots to vote on five-year agreement

DALLAS – Southwest Airlines Co. announced that a Tentative Agreement has been reached with the Southwest Airlines Pilots Association (SWAPA) and will be voted on by the airline’s nearly 11,000 pilots.

“Our Pilots are exemplary aviators, and this agreement would give them industry-leading pay rates, and numerous quality-of-life enhancements, while also providing opportunities for operational efficiencies,” said Adam Carlisle, Vice President Labor Relations at Southwest Airlines. “I thank both negotiating committees and the National Mediation Board for their hard work to achieve this milestone, and I am glad our Pilots will get to vote on this agreement soon.”

Southwest began accruing for market wage rates for all open labor contracts April 1, 2022. The company’s fourth quarter 2023 guidance range for operating expenses per available seat mile, excluding fuel and oil expense, profitsharing, and special items (CASM-X), including those associated with this Tentative Agreement, remains unchanged at down 16 percent to 19 percent year-over-year. The CASM-X guidance range is inclusive of market wage rate accruals for this, and all open labor contracts, related to the fourth quarter 2023 time period.

The article Southwest Airlines pilots to vote on five-year agreement first appeared in TravelDailyNews International.