Air Transport International

Air Transport International Pilots Committed to a Fair Contract

For more than four years, Air Transport International (ATI) pilots have been in contract negotiations. ATI is owned by Air Transport Services Group, Inc. (ATSG), which was bought by Stonepeak, a private equity firm, at the end of 2024. Although ATI operates the largest fleet for Amazon and delivers an impressive 98 percent on-time performance, the pilots are still working under an outdated contract.

"Because our contract lags significantly behind those of our peers, many ATI pilots are choosing to leave the company and sometimes the piloting profession," said Capt. Mike Sterling, the pilot group's Master Executive Council (MEC) chair. "In just the last year, 121 pilots have left—almost one-fifth of the pilot group. This has affected not only the operation, but also our ability to fill volunteer positions within the union."

ATI Pilots Are Tired of Waiting

While management stonewalls at the negotiating table, the pilots have brought their message to the public with strategic precision, targeting high-visibility events, including an air show sponsored by ATSG in Dayton, Ohio, and the CargoFacts Symposium in San Diego, Calif., coupled with an ongoing aggressive social media campaign. The message is clear: ATI pilots are tired of waiting.

"ATI pilots have been in mediated negotiations for the past year, and yet ATSG continues to drag its heels," Sterling remarked. "ATSG reaps the benefits of our contributions, while failing to recognize—and reward—the professionalism, performance, and worth of this pilot group."

ATI is the largest Amazon carrier in the world. Every day, Amazon customers rely on the hard work of ATI pilots.

Air Transport International MEC