DENVER—In a vote that closed today, Frontier Airlines pilots, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l, have overwhelmingly ratified a new five-year contract worth more than $1 billion in new value over the life of the agreement. Of the 99.1 percent of eligible Frontier pilots who cast ballots, 77 percent voted in favor of the agreement.

The agreement includes an average 53 percent across-the-board pay increase when the contract becomes effective on January 16, 2019. It also includes a $75 million ratification bonus, the highest such payment ever negotiated on a per-pilot basis.

“With this agreement, Frontier pilot compensation now reflects the pilot market. From our high monthly guarantee to our industry-leading monthly credit override, our pilot compensation is consistent with the industry patterns for narrowbody pilots,” said Capt. Tracy Smith, chairman of ALPA’s Frontier Master Executive Council. “Our new contract retains superior work rules and scheduling flexibility and improves our retirement, benefits, and job security.”

ALPA and Frontier reached an agreement in principle on a new contract in November 2018, after more than two and half years of often-contentious negotiations, which included two years under federal mediation. The union had sued Frontier management in federal court last July for bad-faith bargaining but dropped the suit when a tentative agreement was reached.

“Thanks to the commitment and unity of our pilot group and the financial and professional resources supplied by our union, we now have an agreement that recognizes the importance of Frontier pilots to the airline. We look forward to a bright future for our company,” Smith said.

Founded in 1931, ALPA is the largest airline pilot union in the world and represents more than 61,000 pilots at 33 U.S. and Canadian airlines. Visit the ALPA website at alpa.org or follow us on Twitter @WeAreALPA.