The new agreement includes significant improvements in work rules and pilot quality of life. Additionally, it establishes pay rates that recognize Republic’s pilots as leaders in the regional airline industry, including a transformational $40/hr first year new hire rate.

Republic Airways voting for a large improvement during these times will definitely enable them to bid on more flying and attract more pilots. It'd be nice to see the rest of the contract and compare it to my previous employer and SkyWest. For those who many not know, first year pay when I started in 2006 was at $16.00 an hour and I didn't get to $40 an hour until my fifth year.

In fact, this first year pay bump is just under what first year pay currently is at JetBlue, Spirit, Virgin America and Allegiant.