Breeze Pilots Request Federal Mediation After Years of Stalled Bargaining

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah—Today, Breeze Airways pilots, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association, Int'l (ALPA), filed a request with the National Mediation Board (NMB) asking the agency to appoint a federal mediator to assist in negotiations for the pilots' first collective bargaining agreement.

"Serving notice to the NMB is a necessary next step for our pilot group," said Capt. Alex Kluge, chair of the Breeze ALPA Master Executive Council (MEC). "After nearly four years in negotiations, Breeze management has shown that it is either unwilling or unable to bargain in good faith on its own. Federal mediation gives our pilots a structured, enforceable path toward the industry-standard contract they have earned."

Breeze pilots have been negotiating under Section 2 of the Railway Labor Act (RLA) since early 2023. Despite that lengthy timeline, only a small fraction of contract sections has reached tentative agreements, with only two sections being tentatively agreed upon since January 2025. In January 2026, ALPA filed a federal lawsuit against Breeze, led by CEO David Neeleman, alleging bad faith bargaining and interference with pilots' rights to effective union representation. That litigation remains ongoing.

"Our pilots have been patient, but patience is not a substitute for progress," added Capt. Kluge. "We are calling on Breeze to use this mediated process to finally deliver on working and fighting for better retirement contributions, work rules, and compensation, along with all the other remaining provisions that reflect the contributions our pilots make to this airline every day. Breeze has grown rapidly because of the work of its pilots, and it is long past due that growth is reflected in their contract."

Under the RLA, either party engaged in negotiations may invoke mediation when direct negotiations fail to produce progress. Once a mediator is assigned, bargaining continues under the NMB's oversight until an agreement is reached or the agency determines that a voluntary agreement is unlikely and releases the parties. In that event, a 30-day cooling-off period begins and must expire before any self-help action, such as a strike or lockout, may occur.

The MEC remains committed to reaching a fair agreement and looks forward to working with the NMB-appointed mediator to move negotiations toward a contract that supports Breeze pilots and strengthens the airline's operation.

Founded in 1931, ALPA is the largest airline pilot union in the world and represents more than 80,000 pilots at 42 U.S. and Canadian airlines, including approximately 750 Breeze pilots. Visit ALPA.org or follow us on X @ALPAPilots.

CONTACT: ALPA Media, 703-481-4440 or Media@alpa.org