ExpressJet Airlines’ pilots recently ratified a new three-year contract.
The contract includes a wage increase that is near the top for a regional airline. Every pilot will see a raise of approximately $14,000 to $15,000. This is a combination of a pay increase and an earned quarterly override payment.
The contract also includes enhanced work rules and stronger job security provisions.
The pilots were represented during negotiations by the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA).
“Going into negotiations for Contract 2018, we used input from pilots, survey data and pilot representatives to identify our primary objectives and strategy,” First Officer Joe Mauro, ExpressJet ALPA Master Executive Council chairman, said. “Our overriding objectives, therefore, were to improve quality of life by enhancing our already industry-leading work rules, maintain our current robust benefit structure, and increase our compensation to levels that are more in line with the industry and commensurate with our level of operational performance.”
If United Airlines does not award at least 20 70-seat EMB175s to ExpressJet by January, the pilots will return to negotiations immediately, Mauro said. This was a contract contingency.
ExpressJet flies as United Express. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of SkyWest and is based in College Park, Georgia.