Breeze Airways pilots seek federal mediator in stalled contract talks

Pilots at Breeze Airways have asked for a federally appointed mediator, saying contract negotiations with the US low-cost carrier are deadlocked. The Air Line Pilots Association represents the carrier's pilots, who voted to unionise with the union in 2022 and have been negotiating toward an agreement since early 2023.

Alex Kluge, chair of the Breeze master executive council, said the union believes management has not bargained in good faith on its own after nearly four years of talks. Mediation, he said, offers pilots a structured and enforceable route to an industry-standard contract.

According to ALPA, the two sides have reached agreement on 15 of 31 contract sections. Only two have been settled since January 2025. In 2026, the 750-member union accused Breeze of bargaining in bad faith and violating the Railway Labor Act, which governs labour issues at airlines. Breeze did not offer an immediate response when asked for comment.

Under the RLA, either party may request a mediator, and mediation is a required step before a strike can proceed. The law also imposes a mandatory 30-day cooling-off period, among other steps, before any walkout can take place.

The union said it remains committed to reaching a fair agreement. It looks forward to working with the mediator appointed by the National Mediation Board to move talks toward a contract that supports Breeze pilots and strengthens the airline's operation.