American Airlines pilots to get 23% pay increase in new contract

American Airlines Group Inc.’s pilots union accepted a new tentative agreement that would give pilots an immediate 23% pay increase, with additional raises in each year of the contract.

Additionally, American is offering the pilots more than 18% pay increase retroactive to December 2nd, plus a 4% boost that it announced late last month for most nonunion employees and any unions that reach joint post-merger contracts

According to the Allied Pilots Association‘s website, the agreement is for five years and was accepted by leaders of the APA. The agreement must now be voted on by members after all of the language in the accord is finalized.

The union had been under pressure by American’s management to accept the five-year pact by Saturday, American’s deadline, or go to arbitration just like the flight attendants union did.

If a majority of the pilots who cast ballots in the coming weeks reject the tentative agreement, the APA and American would head to arbitration to decide the final outcome of the agreement.

If approved, the new agreement would give American pilots a 7% increase in pay over Delta Airlines pilots.