Mesa

Mesa Airlines Pilots Face Ongoing Challenges

Mesa Airlines pilots, seeking to improve working conditions negotiated under a contract that became amendable in July 2021, resumed Section 6 negotiations with their employer last year. After a failed tentative agreement in 2022, the pilots shifted their focus to enhancing compensation and reached a letter of agreement with management securing significant pay raises that addressed post-pandemic attrition and helped attract experienced aviators.

Despite these gains, challenges remain. Fifty-three pilots were furloughed in July 2024, with a recall initially expected in November but now on hold. Mesa's transition to a single aircraft type, the Embraer E175, will lead to the complete phaseout of the CRJ900 by February 2025. This shift resulted in the closure of the Dallas/Fort Worth, Tex., crew base and the possible closure of the Phoenix, Ariz., base in 2025.

New Negotiating Committee Resumes Talks

Similarly, the pilots' Master Executive Council (MEC) is experiencing a transition in its Negotiating Committee, with members departing for United Airlines through Aviate, a United flow program. The MEC appointed a new committee chair in October 2024, and talks with management now occur twice a month.

Looming over these developments is the airline's substantial debt related to a CARES Act loan. As of October 28, 2024, the airline owed $122.155 million, with the balance due in October 2025. This financial obligation adds another layer of uncertainty to ongoing pilot negotiations and the future of Mesa Airlines.

This is a strong, engaged officer group, committed to serving the best interests of our pilot group. We look forward to achieving quality of life improvements in a new contract to complement our industry-leading pay rates.

Mesa Airlines  MEC