Alaska Airlines Settles $500,000 Lawsuit After Refusing Military Leave For Over 160 Pilots

Alaska Airlines has agreed to pay 500,000 to settle a class-action lawsuit over how vacation accrual was handled for pilots who took qualifying military leave.

The proposed settlement covers 163 current and former Alaska Airlines pilots who took military leave lasting between 31 and 60 consecutive days between October 10, 2004, and March 31, 2026, and who did not accrue vacation time during that leave.

The case alleged that this treatment violated the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA). Alaska Airlines denied the violation but chose to settle to avoid ongoing litigation risks and costs.

The settlement resolves claims related to vacation accrual during military leave and affects pilots associated with Alaska Airlines in the specified timeframe. The information provided does not include details on dates of court approval, distribution of settlement funds, or any related injunctive relief.