Alaska management verbally announces furloughs for

[mach none]

An eskimo whispered it in my ear.

 

[ImbracableCrunk]

The number is up to 200 with the bottom 35 to hit the streets in November, regardless.

What are the not regarding?

 

[Deadalus]

An eskimo whispered it in my ear.

The number I originally heard was 200. Commercial aviation sucks.

 

[mach none]

the company figures they can put the bottom 35 on the street without a significant impact on the operation, training and furlough mitigation plans don't matter. Neither does LOA or EOP. They are putting them on the street.

That is what "regardless" means.

 

[dashtrash]

Less than 50...

I'll bet a $100 song at Placers in Cabo on it...

:beer:

Get ready to lose a Franklin.

 

[Old School 737]

I think we have 115 airplanes and about 1500 pilots. Some are on med leave, some are mgt. guys, and a lot are instructors. So how do they think we are that short to start cutting guys??? I don't see it happening. If it does 50 tops and that does not make sense if they get early/Loa guys.

 

[Mamma]

More from rumor-ville. We are going to park about 7-9 planes for a year. Trying to sell them would take some time and when they want to ramp up again it would take too long to get the planes back. I don't know why they can't wet lease them to anyone. The 11% reduction in capacity for 2009 is resulting in fewer flights thus fewer pilots are needed. Our management will reduce us to the max they can and then 5 more just to be safe. I think the 200 number is to whittle away the senior guys as much as possible. I'll bet few if any takers because they are not offering to reduce the early out penalty. Typical window dressing offer from management.

 

[Baze]

Parking airplanes is the only way to justify furloughs over here.

With that said, how much are they going to spend keeping 7 to 14 airplanes on the property and not flying them? Airplanes don't make money when they are not flying.

More from rumor-ville. We are going to park about 7-9 planes for a year. Trying to sell them would take some time and when they want to ramp up again it would take too long to get the planes back. I don't know why they can't wet lease them to anyone. The 11% reduction in capacity for 2009 is resulting in fewer flights thus fewer pilots are needed. Our management will reduce us to the max they can and then 5 more just to be safe. I think the 200 number is to whittle away the senior guys as much as possible. I'll bet few if any takers because they are not offering to reduce the early out penalty. Typical window dressing offer from management.

 

[Going2Baja]

The SEA Base mom is keeping an unofficial tally of those that put in for the early out. As of last night it was at 7. SEVEN....Things are going to get a lot worse before they get better,

 

[Old School 737]

Hear is the latest from the co.

Work force reductions

September 12, 2008

The effect of a smaller schedule on Alaska Airlines’ work force includes a management headcount reduction of 80 positions that was largely completed in August. Slightly more than half the reduction involved layoffs, while the remainder was achieved by eliminating open positions.

All told, Alaska is shrinking its work force 9 percent to 10 percent to about 9,000 people. The last company-wide layoffs and furloughs (other than normal seasonal reductions and voluntary departures) were in 1992 and ’93.

“We deeply regret having to take these steps and recognize the hardship on these employees and their families,” CEO Bill Ayer said. “This difficult action is particularly frustrating because we’ve done everything possible to avoid furloughs and our great people are the reason Alaska Airlines is renowned for our customer service.”

Ayer cited this year’s consistently high customer satisfaction marks over the busy summer months, when survey scores usually dip. He also noted numerous initiatives and a concerted effort by employees across the company that have “dramatically improved” Alaska’s on-time rate over previous years.

“I couldn’t be more proud of your work to fly our customers safely, reliably and with Alaska Spirit,” he told employees in a company-wide message. “Alaska’s industry-leading service has always been vital to our survival, and I wish it were enough as we grapple with the severe economic, cost and competitive challenges that are fundamentally changing our business.”

In response to the current environment, the company has undertaken a variety of measures to improve profitability and protect its cash balance. These include raising fares, increasing fees and instituting a charge for a second checked bag, taking steps to reduce fuel consumption, and deferring or eliminating numerous projects and capital spending.

“These steps, when combined with the recently completed transition to an all-Boeing 737 fleet, improve our viability, but are not enough to eliminate the need to reduce the number of our employees,” Ayer said.

Pilots, flight attendants, aircraft technicians, and reservations, customer service and ramp agents are being offered early-out packages or six-month to two-year leaves in lieu of furloughs. In addition, the company and the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) are discussing contract provisions covering reductions in bid block hours.

The process for early-outs, leaves and furloughs will be completed for most employees, except pilots, in early November. More information and request forms for the early-out and leave-in-lieu-of-furlough programs are available here.

Horizon has been reducing its work force, as well. The carrier expects to cut capacity 20 percent in the fourth quarter compared to a year ago, which would represent a 9 percent reduction for all of 2008. So far, the effect on Horizon’s work force includes:

• A reduction of 75 management positions, in large part through attrition and voluntary layoffs.
• A reduction of 94 pilot positions through attrition, early-out packages and leaves, and a furlough of about 40 pilots this November.

In other work groups, furloughs are being minimized through early-out programs, unpaid leaves and attrition.

“Right now, Air Group’s fuel cost is exceedingly high, making it very challenging to fly profitably,” said Andrew Harrison, Alaska Air Group’s managing director of planning. “When the economy turns around, though, we will judiciously replace some capacity in our schedule. This industry is cyclical — and over the long term we expect to continue growing at Alaska and Horizon.”

 

[mach none]

The way I read that is 94 + 40=134. We will not get 94 pilots to take the EOP/LOA. 25 tops for the EOP.

I did not see the * to denote the fact that this document is valid only at the time it was posted.

 

[Going2Baja]

The way I read that is 94 + 40=134. We will not get 94 pilots to take the EOP/LOA. 25 tops for the EOP.

I did not see the * to denote the fact that this document is valid only at the time it was posted.

Aren't they talking about Horizon's furloughs of 94+40? Not Alaska's? I don't think they have any numbers since the Early-out and LOA's aren't in yet.

Baja.

 

[Baze]

“Right now, Air Group’s fuel cost is exceedingly high, making it very challenging to fly profitably,”

This is the same Air Group that likes to boast about having the 2nd best fuel hedges in the industry.

ALK wants to furlough 150-190 pilots, while American is cancelling theirs and Delta is getting ready to hire by the end of this year.

Don't tell me that American & Delta are paying less
for their fuel than AAG.

Maybe AAG should furlough its high-level management for not having the competence to
make a profit with the 2nd best fuel hedges in
the airline industry.

 

[Wally]

Aren't they talking about Horizon's furloughs of 94+40? Not Alaska's? I don't think they have any numbers since the Early-out and LOA's aren't in yet.

Baja.

Yes.
---------------------------------------

"So far, the effect on Horizon’s work force includes:

• A reduction of 75 management positions, in large part through attrition and voluntary layoffs.
• A reduction of 94 pilot positions through attrition, early-out packages and leaves, and a furlough of about 40 pilots this November."

 

[maxblast72]

I think we have 115 airplanes and about 1500 pilots. Some are on med leave, some are mgt. guys, and a lot are instructors. So how do they think we are that short to start cutting guys??? I don't see it happening. If it does 50 tops and that does not make sense if they get early/Loa guys.

Just for reference, we have 1500 active pilots on the senioirty list (170 on furlough) flying about 135-140 airplanes over at Airtran. You guys either have a great contract or are overstaffed.