Ravn Alaska/New Pacific

Ravn Alaska Pilots Work Toward Their First Union Contract

Since joining ALPA in 2022, Ravn Alaska/New Pacific Airlines (NPA) pilots have faced a blizzard of corporate changes. New pilot volunteers are poised to take leadership as ALPA seeks to close the pilots’ first collective bargaining agreement in 2025.

In 2024, high attrition led to the pilot group being placed into custodianship in January, followed by February layoffs of nearly a third of NPA staff. Building on its seven tentative agreements, ALPA passed a full opening contract proposal in March but paused talks to allow NPA to stabilize.

Building Unity and Preparing for the Future

Throughout 2024, ALPA held some successful pilot unity-building events in Anchorage, Alaska, while NPA announced ownership deals and lease arrangements with other companies, replaced its CEO, unloaded two of its seven Dash 8 turboprops, and cut its Alaska destinations down to six. The B-757 scheduled-service operation was converted into a VIP charter business, which added a third aircraft to the fleet and saw an increase in hiring.

The pilot group looks forward to renewed engagement with management. New pilots—some coming from carriers with ALPA pilots—are joining the volunteer ranks, and there are hopes that in 2025 the pilots can elect a new Master Executive Council (MEC), leave custodianship, and resume full negotiations on their first contract.