1 / 5

Capt. Daniel Morgan leads a group of Allegiant Air pilots in an informational picket demonstration Monday, Nov. 25, 2024.

Curtis Booker, Daily Herald

2 / 5

A group of Allegiant Air pilots engage in an informational picket demonstration at the Provo Airport on Monday, Nov. 25, 2024.

Curtis Booker, Daily Herald

3 / 5

A line of Allegiant Air pilots engage in an informational picket demonstration at the Provo Airport on Monday, Nov. 25, 2024.

Curtis Booker, Daily Herald

4 / 5

An Allegiant Air pilot holds a picket sign as cars approach the drop-off and pickup location outside the Provo Airport on Monday, Nov. 25, 2024.

Curtis Booker, Daily Herald

5 / 5

A line of Allegiant Air pilots engage in an informational picket demonstration at the Provo Airport on Monday, Nov. 25, 2024.

Curtis Booker, Daily Herald

❮ ❯

On a cold Monday morning at the start of a busy holiday travel week, people flying out of Provo Airport were met by Allegiant Air pilots in protest.

More than a dozen Allegiant Air pilots represented by Teamsters Local 2118 staged an informational picket amid contract negotiations that both parties have yet to reach an agreement on.

Pilots did not walk off the job or cause any shake-ups for travelers.

Capt. Daniel Morgan of Allegiant Air said negotiations between the low-cost carrier and their labor union have been ongoing for four years.

The two parties have been in federally mediated sessions for nearly two years with the National Mediation Board.

“Our contract expired four years ago,” Morgan noted. “Since that time, we’ve been through a worldwide pandemic and record inflation, and our wages haven’t seen any increase. On average, we’re paid 50% to 70% below our industry average peers.”

In addition to increased wages, union representatives say they’re pushing for scheduling improvements for both pilots and customers as well as long-term disability.

Earlier this month, Allegiant Air pilots with Teamsters Local 2118 authorized the union to call a strike. Ninety-seven percent of the pilots voted in favor of a strike, though the timing of the action would not be immediate.

The process required the National Mediation Board to declare an impasse, which was followed by a 30-day cooling-off period before they could strike.

Monday’s demonstration in Provo follows similar picketing demonstrations at airports in Las Vegas; Indianapolis; Pittsburgh; Nashville, Tennessee; and Grand Rapids, Michigan.

However, in an email sent to the Daily Herald, Allegiant Air says it has offered what it called a “competitive package” addressing some of the aforementioned demands, including a 50% average increase in hourly wages, 50% increase in direct contribution to retirement benefits for pilots, improvements to long-term disability and scheduling, and other refinements.

“These are among the proposals that Allegiant has on the table on the issues that remain open between the parties,” said Andrew Porrello, corporate communications manager, in a statement. “Allegiant has continued to try to engage with the union to close these issues, or at least narrow the gap, by making multiple comprehensive economic proposals.”

He claimed the airline has worked to engage with the pilots’ union to reach an agreement. “The union, however, has not responded or made counter proposals on the majority of the outstanding economic items in nearly two years,” Porrello said. “We remain hopeful that the union will choose to engage with us at the table over these key sections so we can meet our goal of reaching an agreement for our pilots.”

But Allegiant pilots feel that what the airline is asking for in the compromise isn’t reasonable and would put a damper on their quality of life.

“They’d like every pilot at Allegiant to be working towards the federal maximum duty period that’s allowed every month, month in (and) month out. We would be the only pilots that do that, and it’s just not sustainable long term,” Morgan told the Daily Herald.

The union says it intends to fight until the carrier presents a contact that respects and rewards their pilots.

“When Allegiant’s executives say they can’t increase your pay without concessions, they are lying–plain and simple,” Teamsters General Secretary-Treasurer Fred Zuckerman said in a news release on the union’s website. “Allegiant has millions of dollars to sink into luxury hotels and naming rights to stadiums, but when it comes to the hardworking pilots who make this carrier profitable, they want to play hardball. Our members won’t accept any less than the contract they deserve.”

Morgan said there are around 50 Allegiant Air pilots based in Utah County who are excited about growth at the Provo Airport and committed to providing reliable service to Allegiant passengers. But he hopes for better scheduling methods that eliminate delays travelers often face and lead to more well-rested pilots.

“Allegiant started serving Provo 10 years ago, and we’re super thankful to see this airport grow, and we want to see its continued growth and success,” he said.

Monday’s actions were not a strike, with no immediate impact on travel. Talks will continue with federal mediators to determine next steps, should the parties not reach a resolution.

“We’ll continue to informationally picket until either an impasse is declared or until we get a contract that we think is fair,” Morgan said.