{"id":158235,"date":"2026-09-22T01:03:45","date_gmt":"2026-09-21T19:33:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/?p=158235"},"modified":"2026-09-22T00:03:52","modified_gmt":"2026-09-21T18:33:52","slug":"alaska-airlines-reaches-settlement-over-pilot-leave","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/index.php\/2026\/09\/22\/alaska-airlines-reaches-settlement-over-pilot-leave\/","title":{"rendered":"Alaska Airlines Reaches $500,000 Settlement Over Pilots Leave"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

SEATTLE\u2014<\/strong> Alaska Airlines (AS)<\/a> has agreed to a proposed $500,000 settlement involving 163 current and former pilots who did not accrue vacation during qualifying military leave.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The case was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington in Seattle (SEA) and concerns military leave taken between October 10, 2004, and March 31, 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The settlement covers pilots who took military leave lasting between 31 and 60 consecutive days and allegedly missed vacation accrual during those periods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alaska Airlines denies violating federal law or admitting wrongdoing, but agreed to settle the remaining claim to avoid the costs and uncertainty of continued litigation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Alaska
Photo : 4300streetcar | Wikimedia Commons<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Settlement Covers 163 Alaska Airlines Pilots<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The dispute stems from a lawsuit<\/a> filed by former Alaska Airlines pilot Leo Synoracki in 2018 under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The law provides protections for employees who leave civilian employment for qualifying military service, including rules concerning certain non-seniority benefits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The case initially involved broader claims concerning vacation and sick-time accrual during military leave. However, court proceedings gradually narrowed the issues, with the remaining dispute focused on vacation accrual for military leaves lasting 31 to 60 days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A March 2026 court order dismissed the claims involving longer 61-to-90-day military leaves and the sick-time accrual issue, leaving the vacation claim for the shorter period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Alaska
Photo- Tom\u00e1s Del Coro; Wikimedia Commons<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n