Spirit Airlines and the Air Line Pilots Association International (ALPA) have announced the ratification of a new five-year agreement approved by 70 percent of the pilots who voted.

This marks the end of a three-year negotiation between the low-cost carrier and their pilots.

The agreement includes an average 43 percent increase in pay rates, double-digit direct contributions to pilots’ retirement plans, and $75 million in ratification compensation.

“This agreement increases our annual compensation, delivers job protections, and maintains important quality-of-life protections,” said Capt. Stuart Morrison, chairman of the Spirit unit of ALPA. “The agreement also significantly improves the ability of Spirit Airlines to attract and retain the highest quality of pilots available.”

"We are very pleased to reach this important agreement with our pilots," said Robert Fornaro, Spirit’s Chief Executive Officer. "Our new contract will give our pilots a deserved increase in pay and benefits, and will allow the airline to operate more efficiently and reliably so we can even better serve our guests. I want to thank our mediators from the National Mediation Board and our negotiators from ALPA and Spirit.”

“I want to congratulate the Spirit bargaining team and the pilot group’s leadership for achieving much-needed improvements in the cornerstone areas of their contract,” said Capt. Tim Canoll, ALPA president. “Under their leadership, this group emerged from mediated negotiations with the pay increases and job security provisions our pilots have long deserved.”

ALPA is the world’s largest pilot union, representing over 60,000 pilots at 34 airlines in the United States and Canada, including the over 1,800 pilots of Spirit.