Hawaii-based Island Air pilots sign new three-year contract extension

HONOLULU, 2016-Aug-01 — /Travel PR News/ — Pilots at Hawaii-based Island Air have unanimously ratified a new three-year contract extension that includes pay raises, retention bonuses, and eliminates concessions the pilot group made in recent years to keep the airline flying.

One hundred percent of the pilots who voted cast ballots in favor of the tentative agreement reached with management last week. The extension takes effect on Sept. 1 for the 42 pilots of Island Air, who fly ATR-72 turboprop aircraft between the Hawaiian Islands.

“With the signing of this agreement, Island Air is now able to recruit and retain pilots by providing them with a career contract. It recognizes our support of the carrier in the hard times, and gives management the labor stability it needs to build our schedule, increase our frequency, and acquire new aircraft to improve our reliability,” said Capt. Jim Morris, chairman of ALPA’s Island Air Master Executive Council.

The agreement also improves pilot work rules and provides flexibility for management to keep the airline properly staffed as it recovers from a recent exodus of pilots leaving the company due to low pay and financial uncertainty.  The extension was negotiated after a turbulent period where the management team changed three times and the airline changed hands twice in less than five years.

“We would like to thank our new management for its professional approach to the negotiations and are confident that Island Air will now have the pilot resources it needs to continue its growth, both to our current passengers and future customers as well,” Morris said.

Founded in 1931, ALPA is the largest airline pilot union in the world and represents over 54,000 pilots at 31 U.S. and Canadian airlines. Visit the ALPA website atwww.alpa.org or follow us on Twitter @WeAreALPA.

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CONTACT: ALPA Media, 703-481-4440 or Media@alpa.org

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