About 1,400 Allegiant pilots to protest as negotiations enter year five

Allegiant Air pilots will picket at airports across the country on Tuesday, including at Pittsburgh International Airport, as contract negotiations with the airline are in their fifth year.A Pittsburgh-based Allegiant pilot told Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 the event is not a strike and flights will operate as normal, but said that could change if the two sides don’t reach a deal.“Without a competitive contract, we are starting to lose pilots to competing airlines, and that is going to soon begin to mean Allegiant is going to struggle to staff its routes to and from Pittsburgh,” said Will Fierman, an Allegiant pilot with APA 2118 union.Fierman said Allegiant’s current offer is far below industry standards. Around 1,400 pilots are expected to picket nationwide, including roughly 40 in Pittsburgh.Allegiant is the only airline in Pittsburgh that offers direct flights to some cities, including Key West and Melbourne, Florida. The carrier launched at PIT in 2015.The picket comes as the airport opens its new terminal. Pilots say they hope the attention surrounding the opening will draw more eyes to their cause.“Last year, about 400,000 one-way tickets were on Allegiant flights leaving Pittsburgh. Our customers love the options we provide — some of them out of Pittsburgh, we’re the only airline offering those routes,” Fierman said. “We want to continue to do so. But if Allegiant isn’t willing to compete, we think it’s going to start to struggle.”The picket is scheduled for 10 a.m. Tuesday.

PITTSBURGH —

Allegiant Air pilots will picket at airports across the country on Tuesday, including at Pittsburgh International Airport, as contract negotiations with the airline are in their fifth year.

A Pittsburgh-based Allegiant pilot told Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 the event is not a strike and flights will operate as normal, but said that could change if the two sides don’t reach a deal.

“Without a competitive contract, we are starting to lose pilots to competing airlines, and that is going to soon begin to mean Allegiant is going to struggle to staff its routes to and from Pittsburgh,” said Will Fierman, an Allegiant pilot with APA 2118 union.

Fierman said Allegiant’s current offer is far below industry standards. Around 1,400 pilots are expected to picket nationwide, including roughly 40 in Pittsburgh.

Allegiant is the only airline in Pittsburgh that offers direct flights to some cities, including Key West and Melbourne, Florida. The carrier launched at PIT in 2015.

The picket comes as the airport opens its new terminal. Pilots say they hope the attention surrounding the opening will draw more eyes to their cause.

“Last year, about 400,000 one-way tickets were on Allegiant flights leaving Pittsburgh. Our customers love the options we provide — some of them out of Pittsburgh, we’re the only airline offering those routes,” Fierman said. “We want to continue to do so. But if Allegiant isn’t willing to compete, we think it’s going to start to struggle.”

The picket is scheduled for 10 a.m. Tuesday.