April 22 (Bloomberg) — JetBlue Airways Corp. pilots voted to join the Air Line Pilots Association, ending the carrier's status as the biggest U.S. airline without a union and erasing a gain in the stock.

Collective bargaining may bring higher costs as New York- based JetBlue negotiates pay rates and work rules to cover all its pilots. Now the fifth-largest U.S. carrier, JetBlue began flying in 2000 and has long cast itself as a model of labor relations in an industry known for discord.

ALPA won the support of more than 70 percent of eligible pilots, according to the union. Once the National Mediation Board authorizes the group as the pilots' representative, JetBlue and the union will organize committees to craft a contract, Chief Executive Officer Dave Barger said.

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