Pilots from Allegiant Air held a practice picket outside Des Moines International Airport (DSM) to demand the carrier agree on better job conditions.
On December 3, 2024, around 30 Allegiant pilots met near DSM Airport in Des Moines, Iowa, to express their willingness to strike if their union, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT), does not reach an agreement with the airline.
The Las Vegas-based airline and its pilots union have been locked in federally mandated mediation with the National Mediation Board for two years.
Union and company negotiators have been discussing proposals for pay rises, pilot work schedules, and overall working conditions.
In a press release published on November 7, 2024, Teamsters Local 2118 said Allegiant pilots are some of the most “overworked and underpaid in the airline industry”.
“In negotiations, the carrier has attempted to extract concessions in exchange for long-overdue pay raises,” the press release continued, adding that the company made a record $2.5 billion in revenue in 2023.
On October 25, 2024, Allegiant Air pilots, represented by Teamsters Local 2118, voted strongly in favor of a nationwide strike, with 97.4% pilots supporting strike action if the airline does not agree to fair terms.
Teamsters Local 2118 represents 1,300 Allegiant Air pilots throughout the United States. In Des Moines, which is one of Allegiant operations bases, there are 42 pilots.