ALLEGIANT PILOTS SAY THEY’RE WILLING TO STRIKE

A dispute over a scheduling system has led to a possible pilot strike at Allegiant Air.

The low-cost air carrier has been meeting with the pilots union for nearly two years to resolve a conflict over a scheduling system. The union says the system does not take seniority and preferences of pilots into account for scheduling.

More than 93 percent of Allegiant pilots said they’re willing to strike to resolve the problem, according to representatives for the Airline Pilots Assn., Teamsters Local 1224. The vote authorizes the pilots union to strike “if it becomes necessary.”

If Allegiant pilots did strike, the effects would be felt at local airports including the Dayton International Airport and the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport.

Allegiant flew more than 51,000 passengers out of the Dayton airport last year, and has seen tremendous growth since entering the market in 2016.

“Since Allegiant began flying out of Dayton ... the flights have been extremely popular with regional travelers,” said Terrence Slaybaugh, director of the Dayton International Airport, in a previous interview.

“Striking is a last resort, but we’ll do whatever it takes to hold Allegiant to its promise and to make our airline the best it can be for our pilots, our families and our passengers,” said Andrew Robles, an Allegiant pilot and executive council chairman of the union.

In a statement, Allegiant said it is working toward “implementing the scheduling system” but added that the issue “would not constitute grounds for a legal work stoppage.”

The airline was the subject of controversy in April when the CBS news show “60 Minutes” said federal documents indicate that Allegiant flights were 3½ times more likely to suffer an in-flight breakdown than flights operated by other major carriers.

The show’s report also repeated a long-running accusation by the pilots union that the airline discourages pilots from reporting mechanical problems with planes. It also took aim at the Federal Aviation Administration for failing to take action against Allegiant.

Allegiant issued a statement saying the airline complies with all FAA requirements and called suggestions that the airline muzzled employees “offensive and defamatory.”

Allegiant serves more than 24 markets from Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky. Allegiant’s passenger traffic grew more than 20 percent in 2017 at CVG. Allegiant also serves the Columbus airport.

The Las Vegas-based low-cost airline came from humble beginnings in 1999, when it had just one aircraft that served one route. Now, the company has more than 80 aircraft with more than 300 routes across the country.