Alaska Airlines, Horizon Air Get Nod for Military Pay Class Deal

A $4.75 million class settlement benefiting Alaska Airlines Inc. and Horizon Air Industries Inc. pilots received initial court approval, paving the way for resolution of litigation seeking paid leave for time spent performing military service.

The deal is expected to provide 532 current and former pilots with gross payments of nearly $9,000 each, along with four days per year of paid military leave going forward. The settlement amount represents about 43% of the pilots’ estimated gross damages, Judge Thomas O. Rice said in a Wednesday order granting preliminary approval to the agreement.

The lawsuit challenged the airlines’ alleged practice of ...