Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Airwatch Column

By Dan Fitzpatrick, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Dec. 7–US Airways said in an employee newsletter that it was “anticipating” keeping heavy maintenance work in Moon, although “the final decision hasn’t been made.” Keeping that work here would preserve hundreds of jobs. US Airways also said it expected that a “large amount” of maintenance and engineering support work would remain on the “East Coast.” Union leader Bill Freiberger said 150 to 200 local employees fit that description.

US AIRWAYS HAS REACHED an agreement with the two unions representing 7,150 customer service employees. The agreement governs the integration of the work groups following the merger of US Airways and America West Airlines. US Airways employees represented by the Communications Workers of America will have a pay freeze lifted in April, agents to $18 from $17. America West agents represented by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters will be paid at the same rate as of the end of 2007.

US AIRWAYS, WHICH MERGED WITH AMERICA WEST AIRLINES in September, intends to keep armrest power plug-ins on its Airbus planes, allowing passengers to use laptops, portable DVD players and other electronic devices. The combined company may also install the power ports on Airbus jets operated by America West.

TRAFFIC AT THE COMBINED US AIRWAYS-AMERICA WEST fell 6 percent in November, while the number of seats offered for sale dropped 7.4 percent, helping push the load factor — the percentage of seats filled on each flight — to 75.2 percent from 74.1 percent a year ago.

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