MIRAMAR, Fla., Feb. 28, 2018 Spirit Airlines and its pilots, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association, Int'l (ALPA), announced the ratification of a new five-year working agreement Wednesday. Of the 98 percent of pilots who voted, 70 percent cast ballots in favor of the agreement.

"This agreement increases our annual compensation, delivers job protections, and maintains important quality-of-life protections," said Capt. Stuart Morrison, chairman of the Spirit unit of ALPA. "The agreement also significantly improves the ability of Spirit Airlines to attract and retain the highest quality of pilots available."

Spirit Airlines' agreement with ALPA includes an average 43 percent increase in pay rates on date of signing, double-digit direct contributions to pilots' retirement plans, and $75 million in ratification compensation.

"We are very pleased to reach this important agreement with our pilots," said Robert Fornaro, Spirit's Chief Executive Officer. "Our new contract will give our pilots a deserved increase in pay and benefits, and will allow the airline to operate more efficiently and reliably so we can even better serve our guests. I want to thank our mediators from the National Mediation Board and our negotiators from ALPA and Spirit."

The ratification of this agreement represents three years of contract negotiations, including nearly two years at the bargaining table with the assistance of the NMB.

"I want to congratulate the Spirit bargaining team and the pilot group's leadership for achieving much-needed improvements in the cornerstone areas of their contract," said Capt. Tim Canoll, ALPA president. "Under their leadership, this group emerged from mediated negotiations with the pay increases and job security provisions our pilots have long deserved."