Even as union issues roil the airports in Europe, United Airlines has reached an agreement in principle with its pilots to up their pay by as much as 40% over the next four years.
The agreement, which still needs to be ratified by the 16,000 pilots in the union, is worth an estimated $10 billion, the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) said. In addition to pay raises, it includes provisions related to improved quality of work-life, job security, work rules, retirement and benefits.
And indeed, it’s a good job market for pilots. As of September 2022, the industry was reportedly short about 8,000 pilots—a number expected to swell short about 8,000 pilots, and the number could swell to 30,000 by 2025. United also has plans to hire more than 7,000 aircraft mechanics.
With United coming on board, the major US carriers, with the notable exception of Southwest Airlines (LUV), have reached tentative agreements. American Airlines (AAL) pilots will vote on their preliminary agreement later this month; the airline has said it will match its peers if their offers are higher. Delta Air Lines, earlier this year, agreed to increase wages by 34% over three years.
But the Southwest Airlines Pilots Association, last month, asked to be released from federal mediation, and 99% of its pilots in May voted to authorize a strike.
