The Teamsters Union has announced that it “strongly opposes” Allegiant’s proposed joint venture with Mexico-based ultra-low-cost carrier Viva Aerobus.
In a news release emailed to AirlineGeeks on Wednesday, the union stated that Allegiant Air is seeking regulatory approval to “give a majority of jobs and flying hours to Mexican crews with Viva Aerobus.”
“We see Allegiant’s proposal for what it is –– a shameless attempt to lower our members’ standard of living, all to enrich Allegiant’s greedy executives,” said Teamsters General President, Sean O’Brien, in the release. “Allegiant’s un-American attempt to outsource Teamsters work to foreign crews is unacceptable. Allegiant pilots and customers deserve better than this carrier’s disrespect.”
The proposed “Trade Alliance Agreement,” drafted in December 2021, would grow low-cost, nonstop flight alternatives between the U.S. and Mexico. Per the agreement, Allegiant would also make a $50 million equity investment in Viva Aerobus.
The proposal has been pending government approval for years now, and the Teamsters have urged the Department of Transportation to deny Allegiant Air’s and Viva Aerobus’ most recent motion for approval.
On April 17, Allegiant Air pilots represented by Teamsters Local 2118 requested that the National Mediation Board release them from mediation with the carrier, stepping closer to a possible strike.
Teamsters Local 2118 represents 1,400 Allegiant Air pilots across the U.S. Josh Alen, the negotiations chair for Local 2118, said in Wednesday’s news release that Allegiant’s application with Viva Aerobus will “kill American jobs.”
“While we support the development of new routes and business for Allegiant, their application with Viva Aerobus will kill American jobs and set a dangerous precedent in the airline industry,” he said. “It is extremely insulting that Allegiant would threaten to outsource our work in the middle of contract negotiations. We will not rest until Allegiant recognizes the value we provide and protects our work here in the United States.”
An Allegiant spokesperson told AirlineGeeks in an emailed statement that on April 4, the carrier renewed its application with the Department of Transportation, asking them to resume considering the joint venture with Viva Aerobus.
“This alliance, if approved, will provide tremendous benefits to consumers seeking affordable, nonstop travel between the U.S. and Mexico,” the spokesperson said. “Allegiant currently doesn’t provide transborder flying, so this is an opportunity to expand our service into Mexico while giving our pilots a chance to fly new routes that are not otherwise available to them at this time. A joint venture between the two airlines will be purely additive to Allegiant’s network, as pilots from Mexico are prohibited by law from doing point-to-point flying in the U.S.”
