Frontier Airlines settles lawsuit filed by pilots who claimed bias over pregnancy, breastfeeding
Frontier Airlines has settled a lawsuit filed by female pilots who said the airline discriminated against pregnant women and breastfeeding employees
By means ofThe Associated Press
December 5, 2023, 4:34 PM
FILE – A Frontier Airlines jet waits on a runway for departure from Denver International Airport, Sept. 1, 2023, in Denver. Frontier Airlines has settled a lawsuit filed on behalf of pilots who said the airline discriminated against pregnant women and breastfeeding employees. Under the settlement announced Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023, Frontier will let pilots express breast milk in the cockpit during “non-critical phases” of flights. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, file)
The Associated Press
DENVER — Frontier Airlines has settled a lawsuit filed by female pilots who accused the airline of discriminating against pregnant or breastfeeding employees.
Under the agreement announced Tuesday, Frontier will let pilots express breast milk in the cockpit during “non-critical phases” of flights.
The Denver-based airline also agreed to let breastfeeding pilots reduce their flying time and treat pregnancy and breastfeeding the same as other medical conditions if it prevents pilots from flying.
The settlement was announced by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. The agency filed suit against Frontier in 2018 after several pilots sued the airline.
Aditi Fruitwala, an attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union, one of the groups that filed the lawsuit, said the settlement should send a message to airlines and other employers about making reasonable accommodations for pregnant and breastfeeding workers.
“We are hopeful that this will lead to more change and better protection for workers in the aviation sector,” said Fruitwala.
Frontier's vice president of labor relations, Jacalyn Peter, said the airline is “at the forefront of meeting the needs of pregnant and breastfeeding mothers in the airline industry.” She said advances in wearable lactation technology have made it possible to reach a settlement that maintains safety.
Last year, Frontier settled a similar lawsuit by flight attendants. The employees said Frontier forced them to take unpaid leave for pregnancy-related absences and did not allow them to express breast milk while at work.
Frontier did not admit liability in the settlement of the lawsuits. In the case involving Denver pilots, the airline also agreed to abide by a current union agreement that allows pregnant pilots to fly if they have medical clearance.
The airline also agreed to let breastfeeding pilots reduce their schedules to 50 flying hours per month, and to update and make available a list of lactation facilities at airports.
