Kalitta Air

Alt text

Kalitta operates flights across the globe.

2018

The pilots of Kalitta Air proudly joined the ranks of ALPA in 2018.

950

Kalitta Air employs a team of 950 professional pilots.

Ypsilanti

The airline is headquartered in Ypsilanti, Mich.

A Kalitta Air B-777 in DHL livery (foreground) and a Kalitta Air B-747 at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport.
The northern lights 300 nautical miles east of Anchorage, Alaska, at Flight Level 400, with the wing of a Kalitta Air B-747-400 in view.

Kalitta Air at a Glance

Kalitta Air Pilots Negotiate for Their Second ALPA Contract

Moving cargo across the world for more than 40 years, Kalitta Air pilots currently operate B-747 and B-777 freighters for various customers including DHL, Pacific Air Cargo, the U.S. departments of State and Defense, and other freight-forwarding companies. In addition to several aircraft being delivered in fall 2024, in early 2025 the carrier will add nine aircraft to its fleet with the arrival of B-777-300ERSFs and B-777-200Fs.

The pilots have been in negotiations for almost a year and a half to achieve their second ALPA collective bargaining agreement, and the pilot group's Master Executive Council (MEC) leaders are optimistic they're nearing endgame negotiations. The pilots are working to secure a contract that includes improvements to compensation, retirement benefits, and quality of life. To date, the pilots and management have tentatively agreed to 16 sections and several letters of understanding.

Kalitta Pilots Prepared for Growth

"The flexibility of our pilots and their unwavering commitment to safety in every mission are central to why our company continues to succeed," said Capt. Jeremy Keyes, Kalitta ALPA MEC chair. "Our distinctive business approach has once again set the stage for continued growth. However, as our carrier expands, so must our contracts. We're fortunate to have a strong Negotiating Committee in place, working closely with the MEC to achieve a competitive contract for the pilot group."

Kalitta pilots have played a pivotal role in emergency relief, including being the only nonmilitary aircraft airborne in the United States after the 9/11 attacks. In 2020, they helped evacuate nearly a thousand Americans from Wuhan, China, using B-747 freighters during the early COVID-19 pandemic. They also transport various cargo across the globe, including damaged aircraft engines needing repair.

The flexibility of our pilots and their unwavering commitment to safety in every mission are central to why our company continues to succeed.

Kalitta Air MEC

Kalitta Pilots: Connect with Your MEC

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