Southwest Pilots. After three years of back-and-forth, Southwest Airlines and the pilots’ union have finally hammered out a preliminary deal on a fresh contract.
Pilots Get Their Due
The head honcho at the Southwest Airlines Pilots Association, Casey Murray, couldn’t contain his excitement. He mentioned feeling that the pilots’ hard work and contribution are finally getting the recognition they deserve. Murray believes this new contract brings stability and confidence to both pilots and the airline’s customers.
But hold on! While the union leaders are pumped about this preliminary agreement with Southwest, the final call rests with the union’s 25-member board. They’re taking a look at the deal and will decide whether to officially seal the agreement with Southwest.
If that happens, it’s a green light for nearly 11,000 pilots to vote on the deal.
What’s on the Table?
Details about the contract are scarce for now. A spokesperson from the Southwest Airlines Pilots Association mentioned that the deal is valued at a whopping $12 billion. But hey, the specifics? That’s still under wraps. Reuters was the first to report this mega-dollar contract.
On the flip side, Southwest Airlines’ spokesperson, Chris Perry, shared the airline’s contentment with the progress. He called this preliminary agreement a significant step forward and is eager to move ahead.
Timing and Other Happenings
This deal comes right after the US Department of Transportation dropped a bombshell on Southwest. They announced a colossal $140 million fine for the airline’s holiday fiasco last year, which left over 2 million passengers stranded during a 10-day chaos. It’s now the largest civil penalty slapped on an airline.
However, this contract news might balance out the negativity. If the pilots give their nod of approval, it’ll mark yet another major pilot contract settlement in the past year. Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, and American Airlines have all sorted out their deals with pilots’ unions recently.
Summing It Up
This is a game-changer for Southwest pilots. After long negotiations, this preliminary deal signals a positive turn, acknowledging the hard work of the pilots. While the specifics are yet to be revealed, the sheer value of this contract is making headlines. Plus, it’s an interesting twist following the recent turbulence faced by the airline.
