The new bar has been set!
The website of Phoenix-based regional carrier Mesa Airlines states,
“We’re looking for the best and the brightest…and now we have the highest regional airline pilot pay scale!”
Yes, they have, at least for now! This is an industry-leading hourly rate package for captains and co-pilots, which has a direct relationship to the depth of regional pilots, being absorbed by bigger players.
The Mesa Airlines website further reads,
Mesa Airlines is the perfect place to start your airline career or grow as a professional. We are a diverse group of pilots, flight attendants, mechanics and business professionals. Mesa flights are operated on behalf of our major airline partners, American Airlines, United Airlines and DHL. Mesa is the only regional airline to operate narrow-body aircraft, with our Boeing 737-400F cargo plane for DHL.
Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA) says,
Today, Mesa Airlines pilots, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA), have earned industry-leading pay rates with 8 Letter of Agreement (LOA).
“With strong competition in the regional industry, today’s LOA provides the compensation Mesa needs to stay competitive and attract and retain experienced and qualified pilots,” said Captain Chris Gill, Chairman of the Executive Council. principal of Mesa ALPA. “We are pleased to see management and our partners recognizing the value of Mesa riders.”
Shortage of regional pilots!
The shortage of regional pilots is acute as the post-pandemic recovery effort prompts larger players – domestic and international carriers to absorb flight crews from smaller carriers to fill the vacuum created by Covid-19.
Pilot shortages a few weeks ago prompted American Airlines to end service to select airports in Iowa, New York and Ohio, starting in September, according to a company announcement.
American Airlines’ statement further indicates that it will cease service to Dubuque Regional Airport in Iowa, Long Island MacArthur Airport and Ithaca Tompkins International Airport, which are in New York. and Eugene F. Kranz Toledo Express Airport in Ohio in September. 7th.
The “shortage of regional pilots” has been learned as the main factor behind the “difficult decision” to cut ties with the four airports.
Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA) added,
Mesa pilots are still engaged in negotiations under Section 6 of the Railway Labor Act to address other areas of the contract, but this week’s agreement reflects an overall hourly wage increase of nearly 118% for first-year captains and 172% for first-time new hires. officers.
Hourly Rates – From Worst Paid to Industry Leading!
The following pay rates will come into effect on September 15, 2022:
- First year CRJ 900/E175 captain salary starting at $150/hour
- CRJ 900/E175 first year co-pilot paid from $100/hour
- CRJ 900/E175 20-year-old Captain paid $215/hour
- CRJ 900/E175 5 years to 10 years first officer pays $110
- 1% salary increase in 2023 and 2024
The bar is set and often violated in 2022! Not too long ago, Piedmont and the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) reached an agreement, which increased the first year captain’s salary from $78 per hour to $146 per hour and the first year, co-pilot pay from $51 per hour to $90 per hour.
