Potential Strike on Tap for Allegiant Air

A pilot strike could be on tap for Allegiant Air, potentially disrupting flights out of Las Vegas, Phoenix and Fort Lauderdale.

According to a statement from the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT), pilots at the low-cost carrier voted to authorize a strike following a one-week voting period that took place from June 29 to July 6. The union says the strike vote is in response to an ongoing dispute regarding the airline’s scheduling system.

If a strike does take place, the union warned that it could result in cancellations out of major hub airports, including Las Vegas, Phoenix and Fort Lauderdale.

The union said that pilots had raised concerns regarding the airline’s scheduling system, saying that it disregards pilots’ seniority and preferences, making taking planned time away with their families difficult. In 2016, the pilots and Allegiant reached an agreement requiring that they negotiate and implement a new system within 180 days.

"We remain committed to, and are actively working towards the completion of implementing the scheduling system, working with the vendor selected by IBT," an airline spokesperson tells Travel Agent. "Under the Railway Labor Act, as well as the terms of the current collective bargaining agreement, this issue would not constitute grounds for a legal work stoppage.​"

Allegiant is a low-cost carrier that flies to a number of destinations across the United States. In addition to the airports listed above, its major hubs include Newark Liberty, Baltimore (BWI), New Orleans, Austin, Los Angeles and San Francisco. It also has authority for charter service to Canada and Mexico.

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