Independent Pilots Association

What Independent Pilots Association does

The Independent Pilots Association (IPA) is a private, nonprofit labor union founded in 1989 and headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky. It serves as the exclusive collective bargaining representative for more than 3,400 professional pilots who fly for UPS Airlines. The organization operates exclusively in the labor representation domain and does not develop or sell technology products or commercial services. Its core activities include negotiating and enforcing collective bargaining agreements (CBAs), grievance resolution, safety advocacy, government affairs, and professional representation for its pilot members.

IPA's revenue model is straightforward: it is funded through recurring membership dues paid by the UPS pilots it represents. The union is governed by an elected Executive Board comprising a President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and At-Large representatives, all of whom are current or former UPS pilots. The organization maintains a modest staff of 11-50 employees who support administrative, legal, communications, and advocacy functions. Its distribution is direct through its statutory role as the certified bargaining unit for UPS pilots, with membership automatic for pilots covered by the CBA.

IPA differentiates itself through coalition membership in CAPA (Coalition of Airline Pilots Associations) and ITF (International Transport Workers' Federation), and maintains operational alliances with ALPA, the IBT/Teamsters, and Teamsters Local 1224. These alliances support its core advocacy priorities, most notably the campaign to eliminate the "cargo carve-out" and extend FAR Part 117 fatigue protections to cargo pilots.

Name

Independent Pilots Association

Legal name

Independent Pilots Association

Website

https://ipapilot.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Independent Pilots Association is a nonprofit labor union founded in 1989 that serves as the exclusive collective bargaining representative for more than 3,400 professional pilots employed by UPS Airlines, headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Labor Union Representation

NAICS

Support Activities for Air Transportation (4881)

SIC

Air Transportation, Scheduled (4512)

akta.pro primary industry

Integrated Air Express Carriers (Air + Ground) (TLADAAAC)

Keywords

• Pilot labor union
• Collective bargaining
• Aviation safety advocacy
• Cargo pilot representation
• Flight crew union

Headquarters

HQ city

Louisville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Union Membership Dues: The IPA generates revenue through membership dues from the approximately 3,400 UPS pilots it represents. As a labor union, it does not sell products or services commercially.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The Independent Pilots Association (IPA) is the exclusive collective bargaining representative for the more than 3,400 professional pilots who fly for UPS Airlines. It provides labor union services including contract negotiations, contract enforcement, grievance representation, government affairs advocacy, and safety programs for its pilot members, and advances legislative efforts to extend commercial aviation safety protections to cargo operations.

Product overview

The Independent Pilots Association (IPA) is a labor union and collective bargaining unit representing approximately 3,400 professional pilots who fly for UPS Airlines. IPA does not offer technology products or services but rather provides union representation, advocacy, collective bargaining, government affairs, safety programs, and professional representation for its pilot members. The organization operates primarily as a membership-based labor organization focused on protecting pilot interests, advancing aviation safety, and negotiating employment contracts.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Collective Bargaining Representation
• Grievance Representation and Contract Enforcement
• Aviation Safety Advocacy (End the Cargo Carve-Out)

Quantifiable outcome

• 90.72% contract ratification in 2022
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Coalition of Airline Pilots Associations (CAPA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 November 2019IPA is a member of CAPA, which represents independent pilot unions across passenger and cargo aviation. CAPA advocates for science-based fatigue protections and one level of safety for all commercial aviation operations.
• Air Line Pilots Association, International (ALPA)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 November 2019IPA joined with ALPA and other pilot unions to introduce the Safe Skies Act, advocating for enhanced fatigue rules for all-cargo operations and one level of safety across commercial aviation.
• Teamsters Local 1224majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 November 2019IPA works with Teamsters Local 1224 (representing Atlas Air pilots) on joint advocacy for cargo pilot safety and fatigue protections.
• International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 July 2013IPA gained membership in the ITF, a global alliance of unions representing 4.5 million transportation workers across 150 countries. ITF membership provides IPA with access to global union contracts, leadership connections, and formal ties to international bodies including ICAO and ILO.
• International Brotherhood of TeamsterscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 July 2013IPA maintains solidarity with the IBT, which represents 250,000 UPS workers. The IBT pledged support for IPA in contract negotiations and potential strikes, citing mutual support from the 1997 Teamsters strike of UPS.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• Air Line Pilots Association, International (ALPA): ALPA is the world's largest pilot union, representing approximately 67,000 pilots across 37 airlines in the U.S. and Canada. Direct functional peer to IPA—provides collective bargaining, contract enforcement, and safety advocacy on the same model, just at passenger-led carriers. IPA actively partners with ALPA on the Safe Skies Act.
• Allied Pilots Association (APA): APA represents approximately 15,000 American Airlines pilots as their exclusive collective bargaining agent. Closest direct peer in structure and scale; both unions engage in similar contract negotiation, fatigue/safety advocacy, and grievance work.
• Southwest Airlines Pilots' Association (SWAPA): SWAPA represents approximately 10,000 Southwest Airlines pilots. Similar nonprofit labor union structure providing collective bargaining, contract enforcement, and safety advocacy—directly comparable to IPA's role at UPS Airlines.
• Teamsters Local 1224 (ABM-LIT Cargo Pilots): Teamsters Local 1224 represents cargo pilots at Atlas Air, Polar Air Cargo, and other carriers. Direct peer in the cargo-pilot sub-segment; IPA formally partners with Local 1224 on joint cargo safety advocacy and the Safe Skies Act.
• Canadian Air Line Pilots Association (CALPA): CALPA represents pilots at Air Canada, Jazz, and other Canadian carriers. Functions as the Canadian equivalent of IPA—collective bargaining unit, contract enforcement, and safety advocacy. Highly comparable in mission, even if regulatorily distinct.
• British Airline Pilots Association (BALPA): BALPA is the UK-recognized trade union representing UK airline pilots. Directly comparable in mission and structure (collective bargaining, safety advocacy, regulatory engagement); IPA connects to BALPA through shared ITF affiliation.

Broad incumbents

• International Federation of Air Line Pilots' Associations (IFALPA): IFALPA is the global federation representing over 100,000 pilots across 100+ pilot associations worldwide. Acts as an umbrella/incumbent organization that IPA-related national pilot unions feed into; comparable scale and global reach, though broader in scope.

Others

• International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT): IBT represents approximately 250,000 UPS workers (drivers, package handlers, etc.) and is a formal ally of IPA. Not a pilot union but directly comparable in labor representation model and in its bargaining relationship with UPS—often collaborating on contract cycles.
• Coalition of Airline Pilots Associations (CAPA): CAPA is a coalition of independent pilot unions including IPA, ALPA, and Teamsters Local 1224. Functions as an advocacy platform rather than a bargaining unit; relevant ecosystem partner that amplifies IPA's regulatory voice on cargo safety.

Regional players

• Air Line Pilots Association of India (ALPA-I): ALPA-I represents various airline pilots in India through collective bargaining and advocacy. Comparable in mission (pilot union representation) but operates in a different geography and regulatory environment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ipapilots

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Independent Pilots Association