Only qualitative answers, no quantitative stuff. Still pretty interesting.


DENVER (AP) - Frontier Airlines Holdings Inc. and the union representing its pilots said Thursday they have reached tentative agreement on a new four-year contract.

The pact makes significant improvements to retirement benefits and job protections, which were the key issues for the pilots, said Jeffrey Thomas, president of the Frontier Airlines Pilots Association, which represents about 650 pilots.

In a telephone interview, Thomas said the negotiations were not traditional in the sense of a hefty pay hike. "It was generally kind of a lateral move on pay" with minor cost-of-living adjustments, he said.

"It addresses a lot of the issues," Thomas said. "We're realistic about the nature of what the industry has been through in the past few years and we want to maintain the competitive structure cost-wise for the company."

The agreement, approved by the union's board of directors, will be put to the pilots for a ratification vote with a decision expected by mid-February. If approved, it would replace a contract that expired in May 2005.

"This tentative agreement is a tremendous step forward for both our pilots and the company as we collectively prepare ourselves for the strategic growth that lies ahead," Jeff Potter, Frontier's president and chief executive officer, said in a statement.

Frontier's stock closed up 4 cents at $7.28 a share Thursday on the Nasdaq Stock Market. In the past year, it has traded between $5.66 a share and $9.30 a share.

Denver-based Frontier operates a hub at Denver International Airport, serving 55 destinations.

 

Good to see another airline improve quality of work for themselfs

 

Does anyone have details on this new TA??

 

Check out their Scope Clause.

The race to the bottom continues.......

 

you're killing me here...what is it...

 

That sounds ominous.

 

Found some more information.


Frontier Airlines' pilots union has reached a tentative agreement on a new labor contract with the company after more than a year and a half of negotiations.

The four-year agreement freezes pay for a year for most of Frontier's approximately 650 pilots, according to Frontier Airline Pilots Association president Jeff Thomas.

It includes future cost-of-living pay increases and future pay-scale reductions, making it essentially "cost-neutral," he said.

"We adjusted the overall rates, but nobody will be taking any pay reductions as a result of it," Thomas said. "... It certainly doesn't look at all like one of the contracts that came out of the bankruptcy filings."

The pilots union agreement adds a defined-contribution retirement plan and includes some changes in work rules and productivity improvements, Thomas said.

Frontier has "industry-leading pilot productivity" and one of the most competitive crew- operating costs in the industry, Thomas said.
The agreement also allows Frontier to use non-Frontier Airlines Pilots Association pilots for its Q400 turboprop operation.

But Thomas said the contract limits flying by other pilots relative to the size of its main Airbus operation, which is flown by the unionized pilots.
"The intent is that this flying should promote growth" of the mainline operation, Thomas said.

The leadership of the pilots union plans to put the tentative agreement up for an electronic vote by its members in mid-January. Results are expected in mid-February, and the agreement would become effective around March 1.

Before accepting 11 percent pay cuts after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, Frontier pilots had negotiated pay increases in 2001 that brought their base annual pay to a range from $33,000 to $125,500.


Agreement kinda sucks. Anyone else agree???

 

Four-Year Contract Ratified by Pilot Membership

DENVER, Feb. 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Frontier Airlines FRNT and the Frontier Airline Pilots Association (FAPA) today announced that FAPA membership has ratified a new collective bargaining agreement by a vote of 289 (67%) for to 140 (33%) against, which represents 429 votes out of 553 eligible voters, or 78%. The new four-year agreement amends the previous five-year contract signed in May 2000. Implementation of the approved agreement will begin in March, 2007.


"Today's ratification results are a tremendous step forward for both Frontier and our pilots as we enter one of the most exciting and dynamic phases of this Company's history," said Jeff Potter, President and CEO of Frontier Airlines Holdings, Inc. "Once again, FAPA and Frontier have demonstrated a level of cooperation for the mutual benefit of the company and our pilots, which is rarely seen in this industry between a union and an airline. We are grateful to our pilots and FAPA leadership for their support of a contract that helps the Company secure its future."

"Today's news is indicative of the spirit of cooperation and integrity that FAPA membership represents," said Captain Jeffrey Thomas, President of FAPA. "This agreement provides significant improvement to our pilots' retirement benefits, preserves our scheduling and work rules, and improves the job protections our pilots have earned through their contributions to Frontier. The new agreement will continue to provide Frontier with industry leading pilot productivity as well as one of the most competitive crew operating costs in the industry. We appreciate the time and effort that FAPA representatives as well as Frontier management put into this process and I am confident that we have reached an agreement that meets the needs of the Company and our pilots."