What We Do

ALPA represents and advocates for more than 65,000 pilots at 40 U.S. and Canadian airlines, making it the world’s largest airline pilot union. ALPA provides three critical services to its members: airline safety, security, and pilot assistance; representation; and advocacy. Through unbiased, fact-based evaluation of airline safety and security issues, ALPA works to ensure that the airline industry remains safe. ALPA represents pilots’ views to decision-makers, including Congress and federal agencies, and ALPA pilot groups have negotiated hundreds of contracts with airlines.


Mission Statement

The mission of the Air Line Pilots Association is to promote and champion all aspects of aviation safety throughout all segments of the aviation community; to represent, in both specific and general respects, the collective interests of all pilots in commercial aviation; to assist in collective bargaining activities on behalf of all pilots represented by the Association; to promote the health and welfare of the members of the Association before all governmental agencies; to be a strong, forceful advocate of the airline piloting profession, through all forms of media, and with the public at large; and to be the ultimate guardian and defender of the rights and privileges of the professional pilots who are members of the Association.




ALPA History

ALPA’s history is steeped in our commitment to advancing the piloting profession and to ensuring that airline travel grows ever safer. As the world’s largest pilots’ union, ALPA has advanced the piloting profession since 1931.

Throughout the last eight decades, airline safety and security have been at the core of ALPA’s operations. “Schedule with Safety” has been the mission since our Association was founded, and our legacy of championing air safety carries on. It is manifested in the ongoing work and far-reaching contributions of ALPA’s network of dedicated pilot volunteers and staff working with industry groups and government officials in the United States and Canada to ensure one level of safety and security for every airline operation—cargo and passenger.




Our Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

The Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA) strives to promote a diverse, inclusive culture where all pilots can be their authentic selves and are motivated to do their best. We are focusing efforts to foster a future generation of commercial airline pilots that better reflects the composition of the communities we serve.

Our union has long been committed to inspiring the next generation of airline pilots through outreach efforts to not only those who are already interested in our profession, but also those who have never considered it possible.

We are also collaborating with other aviation industry stakeholders to advocate that an inclusive workplace allows all pilots to flourish in their careers and contributes to positive social changes throughout our industry and world.

These efforts are coordinated through our President’s Committee for Diversity & Inclusion, which is composed of ALPA members who represent different cultures, experiences, and backgrounds. This committee is guided by the core values of Respect, Responsiveness, Inspire, Show Compassion, Equality, Equity, Unity, and Passion (RRISEEUP).