Sun, Nov 05, 2006
Flights Cancelled Because Of Pilot Shortage According To
Union
Northwest Airlines says
business growth and employee attrition is forcing it to recall
"hundreds" of furloughed pilots through the end of this year and
next.
Northwest's pilot's union says the airline furloughed too many
pilots to begin with, and poor work conditions and pay are driving
more to leave. It says the airline is cancelling more flights
because of the pilot shortage.
According to Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Northwest
cancelled 693 flights in September compared with 492 the year
before.
Aviation consultant Robert Mann told the St. Paul Pioneer Press,
"Two things are happening: They're seeing retirements, which are
part of the normal process, but some folks are leaving because the
job or the work conditions or the compensation is no longer
something that interests them. So they're migrating to other
economic opportunities, and that's happening throughout the
seniority list, not just at the most senior level."
In a letter to its pilot union obtained by the Pioneer Press,
Northwest says it's sent 425 recall notices to its furloughed jet
pilots so far. But half of those notified either declined to
return, or asked for a three-month deferment. The carrier says it
plans to recall 150 pilots in the first half of next year.
Industry observers note that fewer than 70-percent of recalled
pilots offered their old jobs back are returning to work. Union
reps blame that on the steep pay and benefits cuts many pilots took
to keep their airlines flying over the past few years.
Northwest pilots in particular accepted a 24-percent cut just
this year.
Northwest's union says if the airline recalls 25 pilots per
month it could exhaust the furloughed list by February. At that
point it will have to go to the list of pilots who've asked for a
deferment.
There is no telling how many of those will be willing to give up
the jobs they currently have. Some of them have already been
furloughed twice -- union reps say that's a powerful negative
incentive to return to the airline.
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