Cost Cutting, Network Restructuring Causes Schedule Disruption

FedEx Express pilots are indicating potentially serious operational concerns that could negatively impact demands on service during the peak season. The company has been carrying out aggressive cost optimization and restructuring across its network, and those decisions are being felt across its air operations system.

The Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l, represents FedEx pilots, and recently Capt. Jose Nieves, Chair of its Master Executive Council within ALPA, said, “We have long warned about the devastating effects of pairing optimization. Multiple times over many months, we highlighted how schedule manipulation, unbalanced schedules, and the impact of lean operations have led to an unprecedented number of revisions, extensions, and disruptions to what was once a stable, reliable air operations network.”

In addition to those challenges, the company now has to deal with the grounding of all MD-11 aircraft in the wake of the accident involving UPS Flight 2976. Taken together, these factors are putting significant pressure on pilot schedules as well as FedEx’s peak-season capacity.

Against the backdrop of those circumstances, FedEx has announced a system bid. ALPA is focused on measures taken to stabilize operations and is continuing to press for a labor agreement that provides the alignment needed by FedEx operations.

Nieves added, “FedEx pilots remain committed to delivering for customers during the busiest shipping period of the year. We look forward to resolving ongoing labor challenges to reaffirm our long-term partnership, which is required to ensure a reliable and resilient network.”

The ALPA was founded in 1931 and is the largest airline pilot union in the world representing more than 80,000 pilots flying for 43 airlines in Canada and the United States.

FMI:  www.alpa.org/