LAS VEGAS – The union for Allegiant Air pilots across the country says it is authorized to issue a strike if the carrier fails to reach an agreement for its 1,300 pilots nationwide.
Teamsters Local 2118 said Thursday that 97.4% of pilots represented by the union voted to take action if an acceptable agreement doesn’t come forward.
“Thanks to the work of Teamsters pilots, Allegiant provides reliable routes and dependable service to our passengers. When it comes to a fair contract, Allegiant wants concessions,” Capt. David Mercado, an Allegiant Teamsters pilot, said in a statement. “We’re fed up and this strike authorization vote shows that.”
The union says it is seeking “industry-standard compensation and improvements to scheduling.” It claims Allegiant pilots are “some of the most overworked and underpaid in the airline industry.”
Allegiant is one of four major airlines serving travelers at Lehigh Valley International Airport in Hanover Township (Lehigh County), offering flights primarily to and from multiple cities in Florida.
Allegiant Air will suspend its Denver service in November and may bring it back in the spring.
Allegiant debuted flights between LVIA and Denver in June 2023, but the company said in June 2024 that those flights would go on a “seasonal hiatus” this month.
The airline accounts for about 60% of passenger traffic through LVIA, which is also served by American Airlines, Delta and United.
Allegiant’s total operating revenue for 2023 was $2.5 billion. Last month, the company reported $562.2 million in operating revenue for the third quarter of 2024, which it said was down 0.6% over the prior year.