Pilots' union blocks Allegiant Air bid to get US residency for foreign hires​

Allegiant Air's pilots' union is blocking the airline's attempt to secure permanent residency for dozens of foreign pilots from Chile, Australia and Singapore, leaving their immigration status - and the company's staffing - in limbo.



The union has refused to certify to the U.S. Department of Labor that the pilot positions, which start at about $50,000 a year, about half of what pilots at other regional airlines earn, meet "prevailing wage" standards. That certification is a crucial bureaucratic step and a requirement for the pilots' green card applications.



Instead of hiring foreign pilots, the Teamsters Local 2118 has asked Allegiant to offer industry-standard compensation and improvements to scheduling to retain pilots who are leaving for rivals.



Allegiant said it, like most U.S. carriers, faced significant workforce challenges when travel surged after the pandemic. The carrier has also struggled to retain pilots in part due to low pay levels. To stabilize staffing, the carrier expanded recruitment to hire pilots under employment-based visa programs.



The union alleges the airline misrepresented its intentions to permanently hire these pilots and that there is no longer a shortage in the U.S., making the move to pursue permanent residency for the pilots unnecessary.