Pilots at Allegiant Air, the ultra-low-cost-carrier in the US and one of the most profitable airlines in the US—voted with 93.5 percent support to authorize a strike should it become necessary.
The vote comes in response to Allegiant's years-long refusal to live up to its commitments and fix a sham scheduling system that has negatively impacted the lives of many pilots and their families.
Voting took place over a one-week period from June 29 to July 6 and was conducted online via a third-party election management provider.
A strike could result in cancellations out of major hubs including Las Vegas, Phoenix and Fort Lauderdale and impact thousands of passengers.
An airline that has made headlines for its bare minimum approach to business, Allegiant made the unilateral decision to force its pilots to use a homemade scheduling system that goes against industry standards and disregards pilots' seniority and preferences—often upending pilots' planned time away with their families. A growing number of Allegiant pilots have been leaving the company for other airlines that respect the basic needs and interests of pilots.
"We are people with spouses and children, not cells on a spreadsheet that Allegiant executives can move around with no rhyme or reason," said Captain Andrew Robles, an Allegiant Air pilot and Executive Council Chairman at the pilots' union, the Airline Pilots Association, Teamsters Local 1224. "Striking is a last resort, but we'll do whatever it takes to hold Allegiant to its promises and to make our airline the best it can be for our pilots, our families and our passengers."
