United Airlines has reached a tentative contract agreement with its pilots, ensuring a pay raise of up to 40.2 percent over the next four years. The deal, reached on Saturday, follows similar agreements made by Delta and American with their respective pilot unions. The agreement, which still requires ratification by the 14,000 United pilots represented by the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), marks the final settlement between United and its pilots.
United CEO Scott Kirby expressed relief at the completion of the deal, stating that once ratified, the four-year agreement will bring significant pay raises and improvements in the pilots' quality of life. Kirby also emphasized that the agreement aligns with United's United Next strategy, setting the airline on a path to fulfill its potential.
While ALPA maintains that these substantial pay increases are not driven by a pilot shortage, the coming years may put this assertion to the test. Reuters reports that United, Delta, American, and Southwest collectively aim to hire approximately 8,000 new pilots this year, highlighting the demand for skilled aviators in the industry.
