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UNITE HERE Local 11: PrimeFlight Acquisition of GAT/Sky Café Throws Phoenix Sky Harbor Inflight Catering Workers’ Lives in Turmoil for Second Time in Three Months

Business Wire

Wed, February 11, 2026 at 10:26 AM GMT+9 2 min read

In November 2025, hundreds of unionized workers were fired by LSG Sky Chefs, and GAT/Sky Café failed to rehire many of the workers

PHOENIX, February 11, 2026–(BUSINESS WIRE)–On February 5, private equity firm Atlantic Street Capital announced it had sold GAT/Sky Café to PrimeFlight, which is owned by private equity firms Sterling Group and Capitol Meridian Partners. The transaction marks the second time in three months that private equity firms have thrown hundreds of Phoenix Sky Harbor inflight catering workers’ lives in limbo. On November 4, 2025, LSG Sky Chefs fired about 200 UNITE HERE Local 11 members connected to the firm’s loss of a contract with American Airlines to GAT/ Sky Café.

A poorly formatted, nearly incomprehensible letter (available here) sent to Sky Café workers on Friday, February 6, stated that GAT/Sky Café is now part of PrimeFlight, and workers will be required to complete “required onboarding steps” to continue employment at PrimeFlight, without providing any details about these steps. The letter also stated that “certain benefits and policies may change based on PrimeFlight’s policies and applicable provincial requirements.”

UNITE HERE Local 11 has written to PrimeFlight and its owners regarding the acquisition and has received no response.

Despite engagement by Congresswoman Yassamin Ansari, Phoenix City Councilmembers and Atlantic Street investors, Sky Café failed to commit to hiring the existing workforce of laid-off Sky Chefs workers. At least 59 Local 11 members are without work at Sky Harbor, and the remainder of the Sky Café workers have no union representation.

Further, claims filed with the Industrial Commission of Arizona allege that Sky Café and its subcontractor Aramark are liable for unpaid wages for at least five food service employees since November 6, 2025. The claims allege that the workers’ employer underreported the number of hours worked by each employee, resulting in a substantial loss in wages ranging up to a thousand dollars in some cases. An additional complaint filed with Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes, calls for a thorough investigation of both firms for potential violations of Arizona’s minimum wage law. According to the complaint, at least four Aramark workers employed to service Sky Café have been paid below the state’s 2025 minimum wage rate ($14.70/hr) during the first two months of employment.

UNITE HERE Local 11 is a labor union representing over 32,000 hospitality workers in Southern California and Arizona who work in hotels, restaurants, universities, convention centers, and airports.

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Contacts

PRESS CONTACT: Victoria Stahl | (623) 329-1662 | vstahl@unitehere11.org

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