Continental is recalling Pilots

[Dav8tor]

By Aaron Smith, CNNMoney.com staff writerMay 19, 2010: 2:21 PM ET


NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Continental Airlines is recalling some of the pilots it furloughed several years ago, as the company ramps up international flights and replaces retiring older pilots.
Continental (CAL, Fortune 500) spokeswoman Julie King said the airline is recalling 15 of the 147 pilots it furloughed in 2008. In addition, it is putting more than 100 pilots back on active status from the voluntary leaves of absence that they took in 2008.
Some of these pilots will be flying the company's two recently acquired Boeing 777s, which will be used for international flights, King said.
Continental furloughed the pilots during a particularly tough year for the airline industry, which has struggled to cope with stagnant business and vacation travel thanks to the recession, as well as volatile fuel prices.
"We are pleased to see our pilots returning," said Capt. Jay Pierce, a Continental pilot and a chairman for the Continental chapter of the Air Line Pilots Association. "With the anticipated delivery of new aircraft, the improvements in the economy and the expectations for increased passenger travel during the upcoming summer vacation season, the return of our furloughed pilots -- all of them -- is needed to maintain the level of service that Continental is known for."
Hunter Keay, senior airline analyst for Stifel Nicolaus & Co., said the recall is a small but positive sign for the airline industry.
"Clearly, the industry is recovering, but I think certain regions are performing better than others, and certain airlines are outperforming others," said Keay. "I think that's a bullish indicator for the demand that Continental sees in its core markets."
The recall is occurring as Continental prepares to merge with UAL Corp.'s United Airlines.
0:00 /1:25What travelers think about airline mergers
UAL Corp. (UAUA, Fortune 500) announced on May 3 that United will merge with Continental in a deal worth $3.2 billion, creating the world's largest airline.
The combined company, which will fly under the United moniker and Continental logo, will be larger than Delta Air Lines (DAL, Fortune 500), which became the country's largest airline when it merged with Northwest Airlines in 2008.
Helane Becker, airline analyst for Jesup & Lamont Securities Corp., said the airlines pledged that they would not lay off pilots as part of the merger.
She cast Continental's pilot recall as a sign that the airline recognized that its latest staff cuts were "more muscle than fat."

 

[canadflyau]

the tale of the tape

(getting killed by the dhc-8Q400)​

737 CA Total 19 Vacancies (13 retirements projected)

737 FO Total (45) Reductions​

projected active bid bid

retirement pilots* min max
System CA Total 22 1,789 1,831 1,831 42 Vacancies
System FO Total 2 2,308 2,281 2,281 (27) Reductions
System All Total 24 4,097 4,112 4,112 15 Vacancies​

* - Active Pilots are those pilots bidding on the this system bid who are not on long term absences and are not projected to retire prior to May 1, 2011

These numbers are soooo light! almost bogus! I think CAL had 4700 ACTIVE before all the reductions started in 2008. Mind you this is a 1 yr plan (ending 05/2011)... they only are accounting for 24 retirements in that year!! How many has CAL actually lost in just the last 6 mos??? I think they only planned system wide for 2 or something ridiculous. Head count is way down and dropping even on this bid, by way under-counting/planning!!!​

 

[generaltso]

Plenty of guys picking up open time, I am sure.

 

[Flybywire44]

They're not hiring though; they want to hold off till after the UAL merger if they can.

 

[thor2j]

They're not hiring though; they want to hold off till after the UAL merger if they can.

Um, that's must likely 2+ years away. Think they are going to have to hire before that.

 

[JetMonkey]

Why do they say "several years ago" Its only been two??

 

[Hutchman]

They're not hiring though; they want to hold off till after the UAL merger if they can.

There is no way CAL will make it till the merger is complete without hiring more pilots. The big question will be who would want to start working here knowing that 1400+ furloughed pilots will be placed in front of them when the merger is complete?

Maybe you will see an loa offering the slots to UAL furloughs............Maybe not.

 

[rumrunner300]

Maybe you will see an loa offering the slots to UAL furloughs............Maybe not.

I hope so.

rr

 

[AWACoff]

There is no way CAL will make it till the merger is complete without hiring more pilots. The big question will be who would want to start working here knowing that 1400+ furloughed pilots will be placed in front of them when the merger is complete?

Maybe you will see an loa offering the slots to UAL furloughs............Maybe not.

Probably people that don't believe 1400 furloughed pilots would be placed senior to a working pilot.

 

[bluefin]

If you are hired after the "snapshot" of both seniority lists was taken, all furloughed pilots are already on the list. This would lead to furloughed pilots to be placed ahead of a newhire. Since this would happen, I don't really see why anyone would want to go to CO if they begin to hire. Thats why it seems to be a logical reason to bring in furloughed U guys. This comes from the union out of the concerns it is creating.

 

[Fubijaakr]

I agree, bluefin. If CAL needs pilots they need to recall CAL guys and bring the UAL furloughees over prior to hiring anyone off the street.

 

[jonjuan]

I agree, bluefin. If CAL needs pilots they need to recall CAL guys and bring the UAL furloughees over prior to hiring anyone off the street.

Except that management/HR hires and not the union.

 

[bluefin]

Just like I was told at U, "management furloughs pilots not ALPA". This would need to be addressed ASAP by both groups. It would be opening a can of worms. If they do hire off the street ahead of furloughees, I am sure it is addressed somewhere in the alpa bylaws. Furloughees would be recalled as the need arises and fill slots that are open after the merger is completed. This would put them ahead of the new hires, since they already have a seniority number. I can see a lawsuit being filed by the new hires and the furloughees in the future if it transpires the worst way possible. Like I have stated before, this is an opportunity for both pilot groups to correct the wrongs in this proffession, not create new ones. WE can speculate all we want, but it is out of our control. I submit info passed on by the union, not out of my pocket. We will have to deal with it either way. It is time for alpa to either shine, or show their true colors.

 

[BCpilot81]

Well out of my two choice places....I hope it works out, and treats your groups with the respect they deserve. Where certain labor groups fall short, it can still be accomplished through patience and professionalism. Wish you guys the best.

 

[densoo]

Semi annual bid award is out. 15 recalls, but I think they have to ask these 15 if they are returning or bypassing. They'll keep going down the list until they get 15, I believe.

 

[General Lee]

There is no way CAL will make it till the merger is complete without hiring more pilots. The big question will be who would want to start working here knowing that 1400+ furloughed pilots will be placed in front of them when the merger is complete?

Maybe you will see an loa offering the slots to UAL furloughs............Maybe not.

That is absolutely correct. After DAL announced the merger with NWA, DAL hired an additional 100 or so pilots, and they were all placed at the bottom by the 3 arbitrators. The cutoff apparently is when the merger was ANNOUCNED.


Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[eaglesview]

This seniority issue could be resolved by simply making the forloughed UAL pilots the "new hires." Then you don't have to worry about not getting folks to come because the "snapshot" may or maynot have been taken. I can not think of a down side to this. Even if the merger were to fall through the "new hires" would still be happy.

 

[UALRATT]

I can not think of a down side to this.

That's unless you were a furloughee yourself... The "I've got mine" mentality??

 

[whatitdoing?]

This seniority issue could be resolved by simply making the forloughed UAL pilots the "new hires." Then you don't have to worry about not getting folks to come because the "snapshot" may or maynot have been taken. I can not think of a down side to this. Even if the merger were to fall through the "new hires" would still be happy.

The furloughed UAL and CAL pilots will be recalled based on XXX before any hiring off the street. Why is this an issue? The snapshot was taken when the merger was announced. It's done...there's nothing else that can be done. Even the 15 pilots recalled at CAL and will be active in a month aren't included.

 

[eaglesview]

That's unless you were a furloughee yourself... The "I've got mine" mentality??

You'll have to explain that. Are you saying the UAL furloughee would not want the job?? I am not making a seniority statement here I am saying get OUR pilots back to work.