Alaska Pilots Secure Contract Extension, Raises Amid Merger

Pilots at Alaska Airlines — represented by the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) — ratified a two-year extension of their current contract on Tuesday.

An Alaska Airlines 737-800.
An Alaska Airlines 737-800. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)
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Key Takeaways:

  • Alaska Airlines pilots, represented by ALPA, ratified a two-year extension of their current contract, including 4% pay raises scheduled for September 2025 and 2026.
  • The main purpose of this extension is to allow the union and airline to focus on negotiating a Joint Collective Bargaining Agreement (JCBA) for the merged pilot groups of Alaska and newly acquired Hawaiian Airlines.
  • The agreement also provides a safeguard, allowing Alaska pilots to begin bargaining for a new contract in June 2026 should JCBA negotiations become delayed.
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Pilots at Alaska Airlines — represented by the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) — ratified a two-year extension of their current contract on Tuesday. The extended agreement includes pay increases through 2026.

The Seattle-based airline and its pilots inked a new three-year collective bargaining agreement (CBA) in October 2022, which included pay raises of up to 23%. Earlier this month, Alaska and union leadership signed off on a tentative agreement that extended the current contract’s amendable date by 16 months.

Last week, Alaska Air Group finalized its $1.9 billion acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines. While the two brands will remain separate, the airlines’ various workgroups are slated to be merged under a joint collective bargaining agreement.

ALPA currently represents both pilot groups at Alaska and Hawaiian. “Our pilot leadership is committed to creating a future we can all be proud of, while ensuring that our pilots are protected, and their priorities are upheld throughout the merger process as we negotiate the Joint Collective Bargaining Agreement (JCBA),” the union said in a statement following the merger’s completion.

Included in Alaska’s extended agreement are two pay increases. Pilots began voting on the tentative contract in early September.

These increases are slated to take place on Sept. 1, 2025, and on the same date in 2026 while including 4% raises each year along with market rate adjustments if applicable.

ALPA says this extension will allow JCBA negotiations to take center stage as both the union and airline work to integrate the two pilot groups. The union added that this agreement allows Alaska pilots to begin bargaining for a new CBA on June 5, 2026, should JCBA negotiations become delayed.

Ryan Ewing

Ryan founded AirlineGeeks.com back in February 2013 and has amassed considerable experience in the aviation sector. His work has been featured in several publications and news outlets, including CNN, WJLA, CNET, and Business Insider. During his time in the industry, he's worked in roles pertaining to airport/airline operations while holding a B.S. in Air Transportation Management from Arizona State University along with an MBA. Ryan has experience in several facets of the industry from behind the yoke of a Cessna 172 to interviewing airline industry executives. Ryan works for AirlineGeeks' owner FLYING Media, spearheading coverage in the commercial aviation space.
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