Guides · Updated
Pilot Contract Tracker (2026): Amendable Dates and Negotiation Status at Every Major U.S. and Canadian Airline
The tracker
Under the Railway Labor Act, U.S. airline contracts don’t expire. They become amendable, and the old terms stay in force until a new deal is ratified. Every row below links to the union, the NMB, the company or a filing. Checked Oct 23, 2026.
| Airline (union) | Amendable | Status (Oct 23, 2026) | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delta (ALPA) | Dec 31, 2026 | Section 6. On Aug 14, 2026 the MEC unanimously dropped the accelerated timeline for “a more traditional Section 6 negotiation,” citing company proposals on reroutes, reserve rules and other protections. | Delta pilot working agreement (PWA 2023); Delta MEC Engage podcast (Aug 14, 2026) |
| United (ALPA) | Sep 30, 2027 | Contract ratified 2023, effective Sep 29, 2023. ALPA says openers are planned for early 2027. | ALPA (United ratification, 2023); ALPA: United pilot group |
| American (APA) | Aug 1, 2027 | Early Section 6. APA delivered notice Aug 7, 2026 under LOA 23-004 because it could not agree the 2023 contract was sufficiently implemented. The protocol agreement is done and “contract talks have begun in earnest” (Oct 9). | APA (Aug 10, 2026); APA (Oct 9, 2026) |
| Southwest (SWAPA) | Jan 1, 2029 | Contract ratified January 2024. | SWAPA fast facts |
| Alaska and Hawaiian (ALPA) | Mar 2, 2027 (both) | Joint contract (JCBA) talks for the merged airline. On Aug 26, 2026 ALPA said negotiations had run about 18 months and urged management to reach a deal. | NMB, 52 NMB No. 36; Alaska Airlines newsroom; ALPA (Aug 26, 2026) |
| JetBlue (ALPA) | Feb 2025 | Negotiating since April 2024. | ALPA: JetBlue pilot group |
| FedEx (ALPA) | Dec 2030 | New contract ratified June 9, 2026 (83% yes, 98.5% turnout), effective June 29, 2026. | ALPA (Jun 2026) |
| UPS (IPA) | Sep 1, 2025 | Federal mediation. The NMB agreed in September 2025 to mediate after 18 months without substantial progress; mediated talks began in December 2025. We found no tentative agreement announced since. | FreightWaves (Dec 2025, reposted by the IPA) |
| Frontier (ALPA) | Jan 16, 2024 | In Section 6 since July 2023. | ALPA: Frontier pilot group |
| Allegiant (Teamsters Local 2118) | Not yet confirmed | New contract ratified July 31, 2026. It includes about $300 million in accrued retention bonuses, a 15% company 401(k) contribution from Jan 1, 2027, raises in January 2027 and 2028, and a “me-too” letter tied to the Sun Country merger. | Allegiant 8-K (Aug 3, 2026); Teamsters Local 2118 TA summary |
| Sun Country (ALPA) | Dec 2025 | Section 6 opened late August 2025. If the Allegiant merger is approved, the two pilot groups must then negotiate a joint contract. | ALPA: Sun Country pilot group |
| Breeze (ALPA) | First contract | Requested NMB mediation Sep 14, 2026 after bargaining since early 2023. | ALPA (Sep 2026) |
| Horizon (Teamsters Local 1224) | Not yet confirmed | Nearly 650 pilots held informational pickets in Seattle and Boise on Oct 15, 2026, after “nearly four years” of negotiating. | Teamsters (Oct 15, 2026) |
| Air Canada (ALPA) | Expires Sep 29, 2027 | Four-year deal ratified in October 2024 (67% yes). | ALPA (Oct 2024) |
| WestJet (ALPA) | Expires Dec 31, 2026 | The union notified the company on Sep 1, 2026 that it intends to start negotiating its third contract. | ALPA: WestJet pilot group; Open Jaw (Sep 2, 2026) |
| Porter (ALPA) | First contract | Federal conciliation Sep 23 to Nov 22, 2026, then a 21-day cooling-off period to Dec 13. The earliest legal strike or lockout is after Dec 13. ALPA approved a $2 million (USD) strike-fund grant on Oct 22. | ALPA (Oct 22, 2026) |
Not yet confirmed: we haven’t found a primary source for amendable dates at Allegiant and Horizon, and we don’t yet track the regional airlines. Spirit Airlines ceased operations and its pilots were terminated on May 2, 2026 (Spirit ALPA MEC (May 3, 2026)). If you have a union or company document for a missing date, reply to any issue and we’ll add it.
What “amendable” and “Section 6” mean
Most U.S. airline and cargo pilots bargain under the Railway Labor Act. The steps run like this:
- Section 6 notice. Either side serves notice of the changes it wants, usually near the amendable date. Some contracts allow early openers. American’s pilots opened early in August 2026 under a side letter (APA (Aug 10, 2026)).
- Direct negotiations. The parties first agree on a protocol (who meets, how often, what data is shared), then trade proposals section by section (APA (Oct 9, 2026)).
- Mediation. Either side can ask the National Mediation Board for a mediator, as Breeze pilots did in September 2026 (ALPA (Sep 2026)). The NMB can hold parties in mediation indefinitely (FreightWaves (Dec 2025, reposted by the IPA)).
- Release and arbitration offer. Before any strike, the NMB must decide that more mediation won’t help and offer binding arbitration. Both sides have to agree to it, which is rare (FreightWaves (Dec 2025, reposted by the IPA)).
- 30-day cooling-off. If either side declines arbitration, a 30-day cooling-off period starts, after which a strike or lockout (“self-help”) is legal (FreightWaves (Dec 2025, reposted by the IPA)).
Canada works differently. Contracts have expiry dates, and federal conciliation is followed by a 21-day cooling-off period, which is why Porter’s earliest strike date is precisely known (ALPA (Oct 22, 2026)).
Why this matters if you’re job hunting
A new contract usually means a step change in pay tables, and deals tend to ripple: Allegiant’s pay tables are retroactive to July 1, 2026 with more raises in 2027 and 2028 (Teamsters Local 2118 TA summary). To compare current published first officer rates, see airline pilot pay and regional first officer pay, or plug any rate into the pilot pay calculator. For who is actually hiring, see airline pilot hiring in 2026.
FAQ
Which pilot contracts are being negotiated right now?
As of Oct 23, 2026: Delta, American, Alaska/Hawaiian (joint contract), JetBlue, UPS (in federal mediation), Frontier, Sun Country, Breeze (first contract, mediation requested), Horizon, WestJet and Porter (first contract, in federal conciliation). Sources for each are linked in the table.
When does the Delta pilot contract become amendable?
December 31, 2026, per the 2023 pilot working agreement. Delta’s MEC moved to a traditional Section 6 negotiation on Aug 14, 2026.
When does the American Airlines pilot contract become amendable?
August 1, 2027. APA delivered an early Section 6 notice on Aug 7, 2026, and said on Oct 9, 2026 that contract talks had begun in earnest.
When does the United pilot contract become amendable?
September 30, 2027. ALPA says United pilots plan to begin openers in early 2027.
Can airline pilots go on strike?
Only after the Railway Labor Act process runs out: the National Mediation Board has to release the parties from mediation, offer arbitration, and then a 30-day cooling-off period must pass. The NMB can keep parties in mediation indefinitely, so U.S. pilot strikes are rare.
When can Porter pilots strike?
Porter is a Canadian carrier. ALPA says federal conciliation runs Sep 23 to Nov 22, 2026, followed by a 21-day cooling-off period, so the earliest legal strike or lockout is after Dec 13, 2026.
Related guides
- Airline pilot pay
- Airline pilot hiring 2026
- Pilot pay calculator
- Regional FO pay
- Pilot shortage 2026
- Free 2026 Pilot Pay Guide (PDF)
Data checked Oct 2026. Pay and postings change, so verify with the employer. Estimates are labeled.