UPDATE: Allegiant Air faces a critical staffing crisis as its plans to hire residency-seeking pilots from foreign countries have been halted by the pilots’ union. The Teamsters Local 2118 is obstructing the airline’s efforts to secure permanent residency for dozens of pilots from Chile, Australia, and Singapore, leaving the immigration status of these pilots in jeopardy.
The union has refused to certify that the pilot positions, which offer salaries starting at approximately $50,000—about half of what pilots at other regional airlines earn—meet “prevailing wage” standards required by the U.S. Department of Labor. This certification is essential for the pilots’ green card applications and is now a major hurdle in Allegiant’s recruitment strategy.
The union is urging Allegiant to improve compensation and scheduling for its current pilots, many of whom are leaving for rival carriers. In a statement, Gregory Unterseher, director of the Airline Division of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, emphasized that the airline misrepresented its intentions, asserting, “They had such a hard time in 2023 finding pilots, they started hiring visa pilots out of Chile on an H-1B1 because they promised them citizenship.”
Allegiant, like many U.S. carriers, has struggled to retain pilots due to low pay and increasing attrition rates. Currently, the airline employs around 62 pilots from foreign countries under employment-based visa programs, constituting about 4 percent of its total pilot workforce of 1,345. Allegiant insists that hiring pilots through these visa programs is a minor part of its overall strategy and not a substitute for hiring U.S. pilots.
However, the union has declined to provide the necessary letter for permanent labor certification, which could delay the green card process for affected pilots. An Allegiant spokesperson stated, “As a result of the union’s failure to provide that information, we understand that the time to obtain your green card may be delayed.” The airline condemned the union’s actions as harmful to the pilots involved.
Amidst this turmoil, the immigration status of many foreign pilots remains uncertain, with some advised not to leave the country due to stricter measures against foreign-born workers. Unterseher expressed concern for these pilots, stating, “My heart goes out to them. They shouldn’t even leave the country, right? Because they might not be able to get back in.”
Reports indicate that attrition rates are climbing at Allegiant as pilots cite low pay and frustrations with scheduling as reasons for leaving. One anonymous pilot revealed, “First officers at Allegiant in their first year in most cases are making less than flight attendants at other major airlines or TSA agents.”
While Allegiant aims to expand operations and potentially add 1,400 more destinations, the lack of adequate staffing remains a significant barrier. The pilot’s statement highlights the urgency of the situation: “For the last 18 months, there was nowhere to go. Now that people have options, you are seeing people leaving.”
As the situation develops, Allegiant’s future staffing strategy and the well-being of its foreign pilots remain at a crossroads. The airline’s ability to navigate this challenge could have far-reaching implications for its operations and the broader aviation industry.
