Allied Pilots Association, Citing February Flight Cancellations, Criticizes American Airlines Management for ''Over-Zealous Cost Cutting''
Posted on: Friday, 25 January 2008, 15:00 CST
The Allied Pilots Association, collective bargaining agent for the 12,000 pilots of American Airlines (NYSE: AMR), cited over-zealous cost cutting by management as the reason for recently announced February flight cancellations by the carrier.
"Time and again, the evidence has pointed to a pilot shortage at American Airlines," said APA President Captain Lloyd Hill. "Next month's numerous flight cancellations are proof positive that management has failed to retain a sufficient number of pilots to staff the operation."
Hill pointed out that management is constrained in the number of furloughed pilots the carrier can recall monthly due to cuts in training capacity. More than 2,200 American Airlines pilots remain on furlough.
"Our customers deserve better," he said. "APA believes that when you book a ticket on American Airlines, you should be able to count on the airline to keep its end of the bargain."
According to Hill, the airline doesn't have enough pilots to cover off-schedule operations due to severe weather and contingencies such as next month's spike in the number of pilot retirements, which he attributed to the recent stock market downturn. Hill noted that pilots approaching retirement are able to lock in the value of a portion of their retirement benefit for a 90-day period. Accordingly, February retirees will not be affected by the decline in equities.
"Our customers are paying the price for management's short-sightedness and for that we're truly sorry," he said.
Founded in 1963, the Allied Pilots Association--the largest independent pilot union in the U.S.--is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas. APA represents the 12,000 pilots of American Airlines, including 2,221 pilots on furlough. The furloughs began shortly after the September 11, 2001 attacks. Also, several hundred American Airlines pilots are on full-time military leave of absence serving in the armed forces. The union's Web site address is www.alliedpilots.org.
American Airlines is the nation's largest passenger carrier and fifth-largest cargo carrier.
Source: Business Wire
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