ATI Pilots Held Informational Picket at ATSG Investor Day

NEW YORK — Today, Air Transport International (ATI) pilots, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), stood together to demonstrate to management their resolve in achieving a market-based contract that will allow ATI—the largest air carrier for Amazon in the world—to attract and retain pilots. Joined at the picket by pilots from several other ALPA carriers and supported by hundreds of others who shared the message online, the ATI pilots conducted the informational picket at an “Investor Day” held by parent company Air Transport Services Group (ATSG). The pilots’ goal was to raise awareness among investors of the record pilot attrition at ATI and its impact on future profits.

“Management’s failure to deliver a contract on par with the industry standard has driven our highly experienced and hardworking pilots out the door at alarming rates,” said ATI ALPA Master Executive Council (MEC) chair Capt. Mike Sterling. “More than 56 percent of our pilot group has left since January 2022, and experienced pilots continue to leave ATI every month. Many of these pilots had intended to spend their careers at ATI but have been forced to leave for airlines that offer better compensation and quality of life.”

ATI and ALPA have been in contract negotiations for more than three years and entered into mediation earlier this year. ATI and parent company ATSG have not made any meaningful progress on big-ticket issues including compensation and retirement. Last week, ATI pilot leadership voted unanimously to give the chair authority to call for a strike authorization vote, which would permit a strike if the National Mediation Board releases the parties under the Railway Labor Act.

Sterling continued, “ATI pilots showed up because we are disappointed and frustrated at the slow progress from management. ATSG CEO Rich Corrado said in a recent earnings call that he ‘doesn’t expect an agreement in 2023,’ further discouraging our pilots’ commitment to ATI.”

For the third consecutive month, ATI has been unable to fill captain vacancies left by staggering pilot resignations. So far this year, 31 percent of ATI pilots have left the company on top of the 25 percent that left last year.

“Many of these pilots intended to spend their careers at ATI but left for other airlines offering better compensation and quality of life,” added Sterling. “Every day without a competitive contract is another day the best and brightest aviators go elsewhere. We must have an industry-standard contract to retain and attract the best talent and ensure our airline remains the largest Amazon carrier in the world.”

-###-

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