Facing pilot shortages, Horizon Air (QX, Seattle Tacoma International) has decided to defer delivery of six E175s due for delivery from Embraer (EMB, Sao Jose dos Campos) over the next several months. But concerned that the aircraft will be leased to rival SkyWest Airlines (OO, Salt Lake City), Horizon pilots have filed an injunction with the United States District Court in Washington.

According to the filing, Horizon's CEO David Campbell told union representative Gregory Unterseher that as it did not have enough pilots for the incoming E175s they would be leased by Horizon's parent Alaska Air Group (AAG) to SkyWest who would then operate them for Alaska Airlines (AS, Seattle Tacoma International) on routes that Horizon would normally fly.

Conflicting reports coming after that discussion have not satisfied Teamsters 1224, which represents the pilots, and which asked for unredacted copies of the Embraer order and all related information as to their delayed delivery. When that information was not forthcoming, Teamsters filed the injunction. In its filing, Teamsters 1224 claims that by leasing the aircraft to SkyWest, Alaska is violating an agreement that Union pilots "would have the exclusive right to fly all of those firm order aircraft".

Specifically, a 2016 Letter of Agreement between the Teamsters and AAG states that "none of the Firm aircraft acquired and placed into revenue service under the Order" shall be flown by anyone except Horizon pilots. To do so would stifle the career opportunities of Horizon pilots.

"The loss of opportunity to expand flying of the E175 impacts Horizon’s ability to attract and retain pilots and will serve to exacerbate Horizon’s pilot recruiting difficulties that are at the heart of this problem," the complaint reads. "Any delay or loss of E175 jet flying impacts pilot quality of life and pay as upgrades to Captain in both the E175 and Q400s, as well as upgrades of First Officers from the Q400 to the E175, are also delayed."

In messages sent by Campbell to staff, he says that the deferred aircraft are just a 'pause' in proceedings and they are still due for delivery. "These aircraft will be coming our way in later 2018. By the end of next year, we will have 23 E175 aircraft at Horizon."

Horizon Air currently operates a total of fifty-two Dash 8-400s, as well as ten E175s out of a firm order of thirty-three of the type.