The union representing Southwest Airlines pilots has reached a preliminary agreement with the airline on a new contract.
The Southwest Airlines Pilots Association (SWAPA) announced Tuesday that it had reached an Agreement in Principle (AIP) with the Dallas-based carrier following more than three years of contract negotiations.
An AIP is generally defined as a non-binding agreement that outlines contract terms between negotiating parties. While an AIP is non-binding, it does reflect a mutual understanding of intent.
“This AIP comes after three-and-a-half long years of negotiating. We are finally at a place where we think the value of our pilots and their productivity is being realized,” said SWAPA President Captain Casey Murray in a statement. “Our pilots and Southwest Airlines customers deserve security and confidence in our future and we believe that this contract achieves that.”
The next step in the process is for SWAPA’s board of directors to evaluate the agreement and to ensure it reflects the union’s requests. If approved, the AIP becomes a Tentative Agreement (TA), which will then be voted on by the union’s 11,000-plus pilots.
Reaching an AIP with the union is a major step forward for both parties, according to Southwest.
“We are pleased to reach an Agreement in Principle with the Southwest Airlines Pilots Association for Southwest’s nearly 11,000 Pilots,” a statement from Southwest read, per WFAA. “The AIP is a key milestone in the process, and we look forward to the next steps.”
The agreement follows Southwest’s $140 million settlement with the Department of Transportation regarding the carrier’s 2022 winter storm meltdown that led to thousands of canceled flights and travel disruptions for millions, as reported by The Dallas Express.
Although Southwest has taken steps to improve winter operations, Captain Tom Nekouei told The Dallas Express in an exclusive interview that SWAPA doesn’t believe the carrier’s ability to deal with winter storms has been fully addressed or improved.
