Allegiant Air pilots’ strike averted by court ruling
Pilots at discount carrier Allegiant Air planned to go on strike at midnight Thursday, but their plans were thwarted after a federal court issued a temporary restraining order.
Allegiant went to court to block the strike, which would have grounded 250 flights and affected 33,000 customers – some of whom use the airline’s service in Colorado Springs. The airline does not have enough replacement crews to fly its full schedule. Had the strike gone into the weekend, as 186,000 travelers could have been stranded, Allegiant said.
Corey Berger, an Allegiant pilot based in Phoenix, said the union will comply with the judge’s decision.
The carrier said late Wednesday all scheduled flights are expected to operate normally.
Thursday is one of Allegiant’s busiest travel days. This week is especially popular with more people vacationing for Easter as well as heading to Las Vegas to watch the NCAA men’s basketball championships. (The Final Four is in Indianapolis this year, but fans gather in Vegas to watch.)
The Las Vegas-based airline operates flights from Colorado Springs to Las Vegas and Phoenix, destinations that are among the most popular with Pikes Peak area travelers, said Colorado Springs Airport spokeswoman Heather Lenard.
Allegiant’s April schedule shows one arrival and one departure between Colorado Springs and Las Vegas on Thursdays and Sundays.The airline also has flights between the Springs and Vegas on the first two Fridays and Mondays of the month.
The carrier also flies between Colorado Springs and Phoenix on each Friday and Monday in April.
It will be business as usual Thursday at the Springs airport because of the court order, and passengers don’t need to be alarmed, Lenard said.
A few passengers already have called the airport to ask about flights, she said. The airport is relying on information from Allegiant regarding the status of flights and customer service, and passengers are encouraged to contact the airline if they have questions, Lenard said.
“We will stay in close contact with our local Allegiant manager and make sure we’re aligning ourselves with Allegiant’s messages,” she said.
Allegiant is one of the most profitable airlines in the world, taking vacationers from smaller U.S. cities to warm destinations like Phoenix, Las Vegas and Orlando and Tampa in Florida.
It has low base fares but charges extra for seat assignments, placing bags in overhead bins and for drinks including water.
The airline’s pilots, represented by the Teamsters union, are upset over the company’s change in crew scheduling and a rollback in a disability program and other benefits. The two sides had been negotiating until a stalemate in November.
Allegiant said in a statement that it now hopes both sides focus on the next federally mediated negotiating session, scheduled for late April.
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Rich Laden of The Gazette
contributed to this report.
Pikes Peak Community College students can ride Mountain Metropolitan Transit fixed-route buses for free Monday through Saturday. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock)