Spirit Pilots Seek Higher Pay Before JetBlue Merger: Talks Start Tuesday

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pilots are pushing to amend their contract with the carrier, chiefly by raising pay rates, before a planned merger with JetBlue moves ahead.

Management and the Spirit chapter of the Air Line Pilots Association have agreed to begin talks on Tuesday, ALPA said in a prepared statement. Talks will take place in Fort Lauderdale.

The two sides have agreed to focus on about a half dozen issues, primarily pilot pay, according to a source familiar with the process. “Pilots are obviously looking for substantial pay raises,” the source said. Spirit pilots negotiated merger protections in a 2018 contract.

Spirit has about 3,000 pilots. Due to higher pay and widebody opportunities at the three global carriers, Spirit’s pilot workforce faces constant churn. However, in general, pilots sensed that a merger with Spirit would offer better career and pay opportunities than a merger with Frontier.

The talks are aimed at amending the current collective bargaining agreement, which becomes amendable on March 1, 2023, but has an early opener clause that allowed either party to begin talks 180 days prior on Friday, Sept. 2.

“For many months the Spirit master executive council has repeatedly advocated for necessary improvements to compensation and work rules, warning that without these changes, pilots would continue to leave Spirit for airlines that offer better pay, working conditions, and career opportunities,” said Capt. Ryan Muller, chairman of the Spirit ALPA chapter, in a prepared statement.

“We look forward to beginning formal negotiations to bring about the changes necessary to stem attrition and make Spirit a career destination airline,” Muller said.

After a protracted battle between Frontier and JetBlue, JetBlue outbid the Denver-based low fare carrier with an offer valued at $7.6 billion. The companies have said they expect to conclude the regulatory process and close the transaction no later than the first half of 2024.

In a prepared statement on July 28, the carriers said, “JetBlue is committed to working with labor leaders at both airlines and JetBlue values committee representatives to ensure the combination supports the needs of those that operate the airline.” Additionally, they said, “JetBlue will expand its no furlough commitment to Spirit’s team members as they are welcomed into JetBlue after closing.”