pilots

Tag Archives for pilots.

American Airlines Should Spend Government Payroll Subsidies On.. Payroll

by Gary Leff on February 27, 2021

Feb 27 2021

American Airlines is bringing 11 pilots back to work after furlough. They’ll start requalification training on March 2, 2021. All of them have received a WARN Act notice, letting them know they may be re-furloughed at the start of April.

One thing that’s boosted how much money American Airlines keeps for itself out of the second bailout is voluntary leaves. They’ve convinced employees to go on unpaid leaves. Many thought they would collect unemployment, understanding that American would not contest these claims.

JetBlue Pilots Reject Deal For American Airlines Partnership

by Gary Leff on February 16, 2021

Feb 16 2021

Pilots at JetBlue rejected an agreement with the airline that would have allowed them to move forward with their new American Airllines partnership. Ironically it’s probably JetBlue pilots who benefit most from this deal.

20 Years After The Merger, TWA Pilots Lose Lawsuit Against American Airlines (And Their Own Union)

by Gary Leff on February 6, 2021

Feb 06 2021

American Airlines acquired TWA in 2001. And since then former TWA employees have felt like they’ve gotten the short end of the stick. The most recent case involves ex-TWA pilots suing both American Airlines and its pilots union arguing that they conspired to strip these pilots of their senior in the airline’s 2011 bankruptcy. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit threw out the suit.

Emirates Pilot Suspended For Refusing To Fly To Israel

by Gary Leff on January 13, 2021

Jan 13 2021

With the recent normalization of relations between Israel and both the U.A.E. and Bahrain, new airline flights have become possible. Dubai-based Emirates now even has a kosher kitchen, a result of its desire to fly Israeli passengers through its hub to the rest of the world.

This requires employees, though, to go along with the flights.

When The FDA Approves A Covid-19 Vaccine, Pilots Won’t Be Able To Take It

by Gary Leff on December 7, 2020

Dec 07 2020

When the FDA gives its initial approval for a Covid-19 it will not be full approval (emergency use) so the FAA will consider its use by pilots separately even if pilots are considered essential or frontline workers for jumping to the head of the queue for access.

United Airlines Will Start Giving Customer Upgrade Seats To Pilots Instead

by Gary Leff on October 7, 2020

Oct 07 2020

JP Morgan’s Jamie Baker writes in an investor note that the deal United Airlines struck with its pilots union to avoid 3000 furloughs includes giving the pilots first class seats that might have gone to customers as upgrades.

American Airlines Pilot Has Pay Docked For Insisting On Masks In The Cockpit

by Gary Leff on October 7, 2020

Oct 07 2020

American Airlines passengers have to wear masks throughout their journey – in all areas of the terminal controlled by the airline as well as on board (many airports require masks, too). Cabin crew have to wear masks as well throughout the flight. However pilots are allowed to take off their masks inside the cockpit.

Multiple pilots have reported being taken off of trips, forfeiting pay because they refuse to fly with another crewmember up front who won’t wear a mask.

Delta Furloughs 1,941 Pilots

by Gary Leff on August 24, 2020

Aug 24 2020

Delta has let employees know that they’re furloughing 1,941 pilots hired July 17, 2017 and later. That’s out of a remaining approximately 11,200 remaining pilots with the company, after accounting for voluntary early departures from the airline.

Furlough letters will be sent out this week.

Why United Is Planning A Second Round Of Furloughs – For Pilots Only

by Gary Leff on July 30, 2020

Jul 30 2020

United was first to publicly warn that a large number of its employees would be unneeded after CARES Act funding ends, because there’s less demand for travel so they’ll be running fewer flights. They were also first out with news of legally-required WARN Act notices for about 39% of employees, preparing to be able to furlough union workers once government subsidies end.

It turns out the airline isn’t done.

Over 30% Of Pilots Have Fake Licenses At The Worst Airline In The World

by Gary Leff on June 25, 2020

Jun 25 2020

In the aftermath of the May 22 crash of a Pakistan International Airlines flight from Lahore to Karachi a preliminary investigation attributed the cause to pilot error and lack of professionalism. Cockpit crew talked throughout the journey about COVID-19 and its affect on their families, while ignoring standard operating procedures. 97 of the 99 passengers and crew on board were killed.

The investigation further revealed that more than 30% of pilots at the airlines have fake licenses and aren’t qualified to fly.