United Continental Holdings Inc. has reached an agreement in principle on a new joint collective bargaining agreement with the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) representing pilots at the United and Continental subsidiaries. The agreement, subject to final approvals, ends two years of testy negotiations between the airline and its pilots, who had begun picketing airports. The pilots on July 17 voted in favor of a strike, but the National Mediation Board has been mediating talks.

“This agreement follows intense negotiations with our pilot group and is an important step forward for our company,” said Fred Abbott, senior vice president of flight operations for United.

Last month, flight attendants from its Continental subsidiary, represented by the Association of Flight Attendants, ratified a new labor agreement covering roughly 9,000 United flight attendants at the company’s Continental subsidiary located throughout the United States.