Airline pilot strikes loom as Southwest union approves strike, Las Vegas United workers picket

United Airlines pilots taking steps to avoid a strike today and Southwest pilots announcing the potential of one this summer. Contract negotiations have been ongoing with both airlines for years. 8 News Now reporter Ryan Matthew joins us live from Breed International. And Ryan, you're learning that the pilots say if demands aren't met this could be impacting the summer through even winter travel. Is that correct? Yes, Kirsten. We all remember the Southwest meltdown back from the winter time. More of those could potentially be on the horizon.

Now United Airlines pilots on the other hand, they were picketing across the nation today, including here at Harry Reid International. And if working conditions don't improve for either airline, it could mean a dent in travel plans that extends through the winter. 60 Las Vegas based United Airlines workers on Friday trying to get the attention of those higher up. Our current work rules are over 11 years old. Pilots like Brian Bunkers say pays part of the problem, but more so it's the scheduling. Once a pilot clocks in, he says they can be force extended for however long the company needs them. They can be reassigned to working on their days off so they can't count on their kids, dentist appointment, t-ball games, anniversaries, birthdays.

We've been in contract negotiations for well over three years now. Captain Tom Nikoi with the Southwest Airlines Pilots Association tells me they're losing a pilot a day to competitors. Those leaving looking for scheduling margins that are not so tight. It's just unsustainable because we're short pilots to begin with. As those negotiations continue, potential strikes loom. Announced Thursday, almost all Southwest Union members who were allowed to vote authorized a strike that could begin in late summer and go into the winter holiday. It is stressful.

While Las Vegas travel agent Robert Bridel cast doubt that these strikes will come to fruition, he says it's not impossible, meaning potential impacts to passengers, especially as he says international travel to the recently opened borders of Australia, China and Japan are surging. If you have 30% or 35% of the total flights cancel on us, it's just going to take us time and most customers I think will understand. Now, important to note that neither airline is currently on strike. Neither of them have even scheduled a strike. Now, there are a whole set of procedures in process that federal law requires before a strike can begin and that could take months. Reporting live outside Breed International, Ryan Matthew, Anews Now.

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