ASA Cuts More Pilots

A regional carrier for Delta Air Lines is cutting more of its workforce. Atlantic Southeast Airlines is furloughing an additional 56 pilots this fall. The Atlanta Journal Constitution reports the layoffs go into effect September 1st, and its on top of the 80 laid-off earlier this year. The cuts are the first in the history of ASA. It was last month that Atlanta-based Delta announced it would be making deeper cuts to its capacity to help weather the economic downturn.

UPS Won't Furlough Pilots Now

UPS says it won't furlough any of its pilots for at least 10 months. The announcement comes after a pilots union reached a deal with the world's largest shipping carrier that includes more than two-thirds of the cost cuts the company wanted. The Atlanta-based company says the Independent Pilots Association has identified savings totaling roughly $90 million over three years. The savings come from pilots taking leaves of absence, military leaves, job sharing, reductions in flight pay guarantees, early retirement, and sick bank contributions. UPS wanted $131 million in pilot savings over the next three years to avoid idling roughly 300 pilots.

(Associated Press)

Delta-Northwest pilots voting on new deal

Pilots for Delta and Northwest Airlines are being urged by union leaders to vote ‘yes’ on a joint collective bargaining agreement. Voting on the issue ends this afternoon.

Approval is seen as key to the efforts of Atlanta-based Delta to help smooth the way toward a combination of the two airlines. Delta is expected to complete its acquisition of Minnesota-based Northwest by the end of the year, creating the world’s largest carrier.

The proposed joint contract agreement calls for compounded raises of more than 18-percent over 4 years for pilots. In addition, Northwest pilots ‘pre-merger’ would get a 2.4 percent equity stake in the new combined airline. Current Delta pilots would receive 3.5 percent of equity.

The joint contract agreement would cover about 12,000 pilots. Still not worked-out however, is how to integrate seniority lists of the pilots.

Delta and Northwest: Closer to a deal?

Delta and Northwest could announce a merger deal tomorrow. However, much like before, pilot contracts issues may stall an agreement according to sources close to the talks.

The two airlines could meet today to give a final stamp of approval for the deal. The airlines may move towards a merger without the respective pilot unions reconciling their disputes over seniority.

Delta-Northwest merge hold-up

Issues surrounding pilot seniority are what’s holding up the Delta/Northwest Airlines merger.

Pilots with more seniority bid first for desirable planes and routes. Lower ranked pilots are the first to be laid off.

Leaders of Northwest Airlines pilots said yesterday—without naming Delta—the largest difference between Northwest’s pilots and other pilot groups is that a quarter of Northwest’s pilots will retire in 5 years.

Without a merger, younger pilots could move up quickly. With a merger they will be folded into a younger workforce of a consolidated airline.

Delta pilots brace for potential merger

Leaders of Delta Air Lines’ pilots union say the potential for a merger between Delta and another U.S. carrier is high. Lee Moak, Chairman of the Air Line Pilots Association, says soaring fuel prices, a weak Delta stock price and “rhetoric” by business groups over the past few months are undeniable indicators that a merger may be imminent. The union plans to prepare for a consolidation when it meets in Atlanta this week. Delta has declined to comment on the union’s speculation. Last fall, Delta executives formed a committee to consider strategic options, including a possible merger.

Columbus: ASA/Delta pilots picket airport

Pilots from Delta Connections carrier Atlantic Southeast Airlines picketed their management at the Columbus Municipal Airport on Tuesday.

They are dissatisfied with a five-year contract, and are demanding better pay, and an improvement in scheduling and company policies.

Air Line Pilots Association spokesman and ASA pilot Captain Rick Bernskoetter told GPB News that he hopes an upcoming pilot - management mediation in Washington on August 28th will succeed:

“We will sit down with management for the 290th time, and we would like to challenge our management to actually show up and be ready to negotiate, and be ready to hammer out the final core issues of our contract, and lets get this thing done.”

Bernskoetter warns that customer service could take a nosedive if the talks do not succeed:

"Their airline service could be severely disrupted or rendered non-existent if we don't see this deal brought to a conclusion."

ASA spokesperson Kate Modolo counters:

"ASA isn't happy either about the time we've been in negotiation, because it really is in the best interests of our pilots and our customers, and of ASA to come to an agreement as expeditiously as possible."

Modolo contends:

"...ASA will not enter into a contract that doesn't make sense for our people, or for our long-tern success."

ASA is currently the sole carrier to the regional airport. The airport is negotiating with other potential carriers, American Airlines among them, and is planning expansion of its facilities. More on that here.

The pilots have also picketed at airports in Albany, Panama City and Fort Walton Beach, Fla. They took their case to the airport at Dothan, Ala. Wednesday morning.

In related aviation news:

• Government and business leaders think now is the time for the Northeast Georgia Surface and Air Transportation Commission to meet after a 15-year hiatus. The idea of a regional airport in northeast Georgia is gaining steam. More on that here.
  
  
• The nation’s most consistently late flight goes from Atlanta to Chattanooga. More on that here.
  
  
  
  
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