Capt. Jason Ambrosi, president of the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), commented on recent legislation introduced by Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Dick Durbin and Senator Josh Hawley. The Protecting Employees and Retirees in Business Bankruptcies Act of 2025 aims to address issues related to corporate bankruptcy practices.
“Airline workers know far too well the devastating effects corporate bankruptcies have on the lives of hardworking Americans,” Ambrosi stated. He highlighted the significant sacrifices made by pilots post-9/11, which included considerable wage, pension, and benefit cuts. “We are grateful to Sens. Durbin and Hawley for their leadership in bringing forth this comprehensive reform legislation that will prevent a repeat of that sad chapter in our history,” he added.
The proposed legislation intends to curb airlines’ ability to undermine collective bargaining agreements through bankruptcy proceedings. Ambrosi noted, “After 9/11, airlines were able to use the courts to squeeze $84 billion in wage and benefit reductions.” He also criticized the disproportionate nature of these reductions.
ALPA pilots have expressed strong support for the bill, emphasizing its potential to safeguard worker rights and benefits in bankruptcy scenarios. “Airline employees are still feeling the devastating effects corporate bankruptcies have on the lives of hardworking Americans,” Ambrosi concluded.
ALPA, founded in 1931, is recognized as the largest airline pilot union worldwide, representing over 79,000 pilots across 42 U.S. and Canadian airlines.
