Hawaiian Airlines pilots to vote on new contract after 3 years of hard negotiating

Hawaiian Airlines pilots to vote on new contract

HONOLULU — Hawaiian Airlines has reached a tentative agreement with its pilots union three years after contract talks began.

The carrier and the Air Line Pilots Association announced the five-year agreement Friday. Pilots are expected to hold a ratification vote in the coming weeks.

Terms of the accord that would cover 418 pilots weren’t disclosed.

But union official Eric Sampson says the proposed pact includes improvements in both pay and retirement.

Hawaiian President and CEO Mark Dunkerley says the agreement provides pilots an outstanding pay and benefits package while also addressing some operational issues important to the company.

The contract talks were sometimes contentious, with pilots authorizing a strike if the talks didn’t result in a new pact.