Pilots in Seattle and Boise Demand Fair Contract After Years of Stalled Negotiations
SEATTLE, Oct. 14, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Nearly 650 pilots at Horizon Air, represented by Teamsters Local 1224, held an informational picket today in Seattle and Boise, calling on the airline to end years of delay tactics and agree to a fair contract that provides industry-standard compensation.
Teamsters pilots at Horizon have been negotiating for nearly four years for an agreement that addresses critical issues including wages, staffing and training shortages, and operational concerns that continue to impact both employees and the airline’s future.
As a subsidiary of Alaska Air Group, Horizon pilots perform nearly the same amount of flying as their counterparts at Alaska Airlines. Despite those responsibilities, Horizon pilots’ pay continues to fall behind industry standards due to the company’s refusal to negotiate a fair agreement.
“Our pilots are the backbone of Horizon’s operation,” said Henry Simkins, Chair of Local 1224’s Horizon Executive Council. “They continue to deliver safe and reliable service every day while management drags its feet on a contract that reflects their contribution and value. The same mismanagement has created operational challenges throughout the airline, and that dysfunction has become impossible to ignore in bargaining. Our members deserve better and they’re tired of being told to wait.”
In addition to the informational picket, Horizon pilots will conduct a vote of no confidence in Carlos Zendejas, Senior Vice President of Operations at Horizon.
Pilots at Horizon say chronic staffing shortages, inconsistent application of company policies and procedures, and a growing reliance on pilots to compensate for operational shortcomings are reasons for the vote. These issues have persisted throughout contract negotiations and have contributed to a significant erosion of trust in company leadership.
“Every day, Horizon pilots are expected to do more with less,” said Jason Welch, a Horizon pilot and member of Local 1224. “We’ve watched these challenges persist for years, yet management refuses to address the issues that matter most to us. Enough is enough — it’s time for the company to start delivering real solutions.”
Teamsters Local 1224 represents aviation professionals throughout the United States, including flight crewmembers at ABX Air, Cape Air, Horizon Air, Omni Air International, and Silver Airways. Visit apa1224.org for more information.
Contact:
Lena Melentijevic, (347) 208-2279
LMelentijevic@teamster.org
View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/teamsters-pilots-at-horizon-air-hold-informational-pickets-302909129.html
SOURCE Teamsters Local 1224
