By Doyinsola Oladipo

NEW YORK, Nov 18 (Reuters) - Allegiant Air ALGT.O pilots picketed at 22 U.S. airports on Tuesday, demanding higher pay and better scheduling as labor contract talks with the carrier have stalled after several years of negotiations.

The Teamsters, which represents nearly 1,400 Allegiant pilots, said they are among the most overworked and underpaid in the industry and is seeking industry-standard compensation and improvements to scheduling as frustrated pilots leave the carrier for higher-paying competitors.

"We're losing confidence in management, and we're losing all of the highly skilled experienced pilots. We're losing them to United, Delta, American, anywhere that you're going to be fairly compensated for your work," a pilot told Reuters under the condition of anonymity. "Why would you stay here at this point?"

Allegiant pilots are currently working under a contract that was ratified in 2016 and became amendable in 2021. First officers in their first year earn about $50,000 annually at Allegiant, compared to regional pilots whose salaries start at $100,000, according to a union spokesperson.

Las Vegas-based Allegiant said it has offered an immediate 50% average increase in hourly wages that will rise to 70% over the life of a new 5-year contract. The carrier said it has also offered a 50% increase in its direct contribution to pilots’ retirement benefits and improvements in long-term disability benefits.

While the offered pay rates may look good, the carrier and union haven't agreed on scheduling, the pilot said, adding that Allegiant can move their off days at will and reserve pilots at larger bases work almost every day they are on call.

Teamsters Local 2118 said the carrier is looking to deem 20% of pilots as surplus and force the rest to fly maximum schedules. Allegiant denied this claim.

"If we are able to strike, we'll do it in an instant. We won't hesitate to shut the airline down," Gregory Unterseher, director of the Teamsters Airline Division told Reuters.

In November 2024, Allegiant pilots voted by 97% to authorize a strike. The union in April requested that the National Mediation Board release them from mediation in order to do so. Allegiant said the union has not met the conditions to legally call for a strike.

As contract negotiations drone on, the company is at risk of facing staffing issues as frustrated pilots seek higher paying jobs with competitors at a time when the carrier seeks to expand its presence amid Spirit Airline's second bankruptcy.

(Reporting by Doyinsola Oladipo in New York; Editing by Nick Zieminski)

((doyinsola.oladipo@thomsonreuters.com; +1 8623846440))