United Airlines' pilots have voted to reject a tentative agreement on terms for a new contract nearly six months after their union had first signed an agreement in principle.

The Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) hopes to hammer out a new agreement with United that reflects the carrier's profitable second and third quarters of 2022.

The tentative agreement had first been disclosed by ALPA in mid-May. United's chief executive Scott Kirby said in a 13 May LinkedIn post that the Chicago-based carrier "was the only airline to work with our pilots' union to reach an agreement during Covid. It's not surprising that we are now the first airline to get an agreement in principle for an industry-leading new pilot contract". On 24 June, the master executive council for United's pilots represented by ALPA said that it had approved modified terms for the tentative collective bargaining agreement. The union noted at the time: "If ratified, the TA will generate an additional $1.3 billion of value for United pilots over the course of the two-year agreement." Under terms of the agreement, United's pilots were to receive three pay-rate increases totalling more than 14.5% within 18 months, retroactive to the start of 2022; enhanced overtime compensation and premium pay; "improved" trip construction parameters to combat pilot fatigue; and eight weeks of paid maternity leave. The tentative agreement was subsequently presented to United pilots during the summer. ALPA stated on 1 November that 94% of the 9,980 participating United pilots voted to reject the tentative agreement, adding that it "fell short of the industry-leading contract United pilots have earned and deserve after leading the airline through the pandemic and back to profitability". “By [United's] own admission, this agreement missed the mark," Michael Hamilton, chair of United pilots' master executive council, states. "That’s why both parties agreed to re-engage at the bargaining table for a new, improved agreement. It is vital United management recognises that an industry-leading contract is required to hire, train and retain the best pilots in the world for the United Next growth plan to succeed." ALPA says that United's pilots will "immediately" commence a series of picketing events intended to pressure United to cease its "wait-and-see approach to negotiations" and commit to reaching an agreement "that fully recognises their contributions to the success of the airline". On 31 October, Delta Air Lines' pilots represented by ALPA voted to authorise its union to call a strike if contract negotiations with the carrier break down and certain legal conditions for a strike are met. American Airlines is currently negotiating terms for a new contract with its own pilots, represented by the Allied Pilots Association (APA). On 22 October, APA president Ed Sicher was notified by the union's negotiating committee that a proposed tentative agreement had been reached. The agreement now moves to APA's board of directors for approval after which, if approved, it goes to the union membership for a vote.

Jazeera Airways saw a rebound in activity through 2022's first nine months making it the largest airline operating to and from Kuwait by aircraft movements. It carried 2.6 million passengers across the period, over five times the number for the first nine months of 2019. This growth reflects a return to passenger demand in core markets as well as an expansion to new destinations: the airline launched six new routes in the period. This included four new connections to Saudi Arabia amid "increasing demand for travel and tourism" in the country. The 20,000 take-offs/landings Jazeera performed at Kuwait International in the period make it the largest operator at the airport, it says. Net profit reached KD20.8 million ($67 million), up from just KD0.1 million in the first nine months of 2021. Revenue doubled to KD141 million. "Appetite for travel increased significantly during the peak summer season, exceeding the numbers of passengers that flew with us during the record year of 2019," states chairman Marwan Boodai. "We have restored our business post-pandemic and made strong growth as reflected in our financial performance. This has been stimulated operationally with the launch of 11 new routes since the beginning of the year and bringing an additional two aircraft into the fleet." Jazeera expects to take delivery of two Airbus A320neos in the third quarter as part of its order for 20 A320neos and eight A321neos which will take its total fleet size to 35 in the coming years.

Delta Air Lines' pilots have voted to authorise its union to call a strike if contract negotiations with the carrier break down and certain legal conditions for a strike are met. The Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) states that with more than 96% of its members flying for Delta participating, 99% voted to authorise a strike if necessary. ALPA and Delta separately point out that the vote does not mean that the Atlanta-based carrier's pilots have gone on strike. The union notes that before a strike can take place, the National Mediation Board must first decide that additional mediation efforts would not be productive and offer the parties an opportunity to arbitrate the contract dispute. If either side declines the arbitration, both parties enter a 30-day cooling-off period, after which the pilots' union can strike or management can enact a lockout. Delta says that Delta's pilots are not on strike, adding: "This authorisation vote will not affect our operation for our customers. ALPA's stated purpose for the vote is simply to gain leverage in our pilot contract negotiations, which continue to progress under the normal process set by the Railway Labor Act and in partnership with the National Mediation Board. Under that federal law, there are many steps remaining in the process and many opportunities left for collaborative negotiations before a strike is even allowed to be considered. "Delta and ALPA have made significant progress in our negotiations and have only a few contract sections left to resolve. We are confident that the parties will reach an agreement that is fair and equitable, as we always have in past negotiations." ALPA says that Delta's pilots are working under pay rates, contractual provisions and benefits that were negotiated in 2016. Negotiations for a new agreement commenced in April 2019, nine months prior to the amendable date of December 2019. Talks entered mediation in February 2020 and were paused for nearly two years during the Covid-19 pandemic. Mediated talks resumed in January 2022. Today, Delta’s nearly 15,000 pilots sent a clear message to management that we are willing to go the distance to secure a contract that reflects the value we bring to Delta Air Lines as frontline leaders and long-term stakeholders," Jason Ambrosi, chair of the Delta's ALPA master executive council, states. "Delta has rebounded from the pandemic and is poised to be stronger than ever, posting record revenues for the third quarter. Meanwhile, our negotiations have dragged on for too long. Our goal is to reach an agreement, not to strike. The ball is in management’s court."