Breeze Airways
A Breeze Airways A220 at nighttime at Rhode Island T.F. Green International Airport. Photo: Capt. Kyle Terry (Breeze Airways)
At A Glance
Pilots joined ALPA: 2022
Number of pilots/flightcrew members: 546
Pilot bases: Providence, R.I.; Tampa, Fort Myers, Vero Beach, and Orlando, Fla.; Charleston, S.C.; Norfolk, Va.; Bradley, Conn.; Provo, Utah; and New Orleans, La.
Key markets: Las Vegas, Nev.; Los Angeles and San Francisco, Calif.; and Tampa and Orlando, Fla.
Headquarters: Cottonwood Heights, Utah
Operations: Breeze operates flights to 60 destinations in the U.S.
Fleet: 10 EMB190s, 3 EMB195s, and 31 A220s
Breeze Airways pilots are heading into the new year unified and optimistic as they continue negotiations for their first collective bargaining agreement that began nearly two years ago.
On May 10, 2024, the pilots displayed their unity with their first-ever informational picket at Norfolk International Airport, sending a clear message to management that it’s time to prioritize pilots and deliver an industry-standard contract that recognizes the pilots’ contributions and invests in their future with the airline.
In the fall of 2022, Breeze filed a complaint to overturn the National Mediation Board’s (NMB) certification of ALPA, arguing that the NMB violated the Railway Labor Act by excluding pilots who hadn’t completed training and IOE and begun line flying at the time ALPA filed its application for an election. This past September, after the government and ALPA as an intervenor had successfully defended the pilots’ rights on two separate occasions in court, the pilots’ Master Executive Council (MEC) announced the case was officially closed, as management didn’t seek further appeal. “As we continue negotiations, we expect to see a more cooperative spirit from management, specifically regarding signing letters of agreement as well as increasing bargaining dates and allowing ALPA pilot negotiators the necessary time off to properly prepare for negotiations,” said Capt. Alexander Kluge, the pilot group’s MEC chair. “It’s, therefore, more important than ever for all Breeze pilots to stand unified.”
The pilots have successfully established a robust committee structure, with 16 standing committees in place. Since the start of negotiations nearly two years ago, the Negotiations Committee has signed 13 tentative agreements.
