Southwest Pilots Approve New Union Contract

Southwest Airlines pilots have voted in favor of approving a new five-year contract, avoiding a potential strike that loomed for many months. 

Members of the Southwest Airlines Pilots Association (SWAPA) voted 92.73% to 7.27% in favor of the tentative contract agreed upon in December between SWAPA and Southwest representatives under federal mediation. 

“This has been a long time coming and it is only through the unity of our pilot group that we were able to achieve the gains in this contract,” said SWAPA President Captain Casey Murray. “This new CBA will bring our pilots the security and protections that have been long needed.” 

The new contract, which will last through December 2028, includes an initial 29.15% pay rate increase for pilots with incremental raises over the next few years. It also includes improvements to pilot scheduling policies, maternity and paternity leave, company-provided disability coverage, retirement plans, and Scope protections.   

“Our pilots are world-class aviators who uphold Southwest’s commitments to Safety, Hospitality, and connecting people to what’s important in their lives,” said Adam Carlisle, vice president of labor relations at Southwest Airlines. “This agreement justly rewards our Pilots and supports our operational needs.” 

The contract covers Southwest’s nearly 11,000 airline pilots. Southwest’s flight attendants are one of its final working groups still in contract negotiations.