Continental cancels 24 flights over crew issue

[DieselDragRacer]

NEWARK, N.J. — Continental Airlines canceled 24 flights Wednesday, most of them out of Newark Liberty International Airport, due to "crew availability" problems.

Continental operates a large hub out of Newark and has about 3,000 daily flights system-wide. It was working to get customers on alternate flights.

Airline spokeswoman Megan McCarthy said that the cancellations were "due to lack of crew availability" but declined to elaborate. Air Line Pilots Association spokeswoman Amy Flanagan declined to comment.

United Airlines bought Continental last year and has been trying to combine them into a single airline. The process has been slower than expected, partly because of contentious labor negotiations.

Jeff Smisek, the CEO of United Continental Holdings Co., said last week that it was unlikely the company could agree to labor contracts with all its unions this year.

The company said it has more pilots this summer than last summer. Company spokeswoman Julie King said the Air Line Pilots Association, which represents pilots at both airlines, "participates in our monthly review to set staffing levels."

Read more: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/nation/7671748.html#ixzz1TKZ5UnOt
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[PBRstreetgang]

Bush league!
SKYW canceled more than 70 in one day. Due to a lack of interest, cancellations will continue for the future.
PBR

 

[nimtz]

I don't relish inconveniencing passengers. That said I also don't like getting 88 hour lines crammed down my throat for 8 months in a row. PBS doesn't give me anywhere near enough days off for me to even stop to think about JM pay.

Jeff and his Flight Ops yes men knew very well they were taking a high risk trying to run this airline on a rubber band yet again this summer. Jeff's desperation just gave ALPA a hanging curveball. They better knock the d@mn ball out of the park this time. Organized job action?!? GMAFB!

 

[On Your Six]

Maybe it's flu season in EWR? If Count Chocula didn't hire enough pilots to cover sick calls, that is his fault.


OYS

 

[DieselDragRacer]

Maybe there a was "big name" headliner at the local shoe show last night?

 

[list2002]

Best weather CAL has seen in the last 3 summers I've been here too. I think they got off easy.

 

[tmac3333]

"Co-workers re-accommodate customers after pilot sick calls

Posted July 27, 2011
CO canceled 24 flights Wednesday as a result of pilot sick calls. Co-workers re-accommodated customers on other flights, giving them as much advance notice as possible. We also upgauged aircraft in larger markets. Reservations agents re-accommodated approximately 2,500 customers and our airport customer service agents helped customers get to their destinations.
Several news outlets reported the cancellations."

This was in the United Daily News. What a bunch of garbage...it's all the pilots' fault. Desparation sinking in....pitting us against other groups now.

 

[Yuppyguppy]

Yeah I saw that on Skynet. The idiots are running their playbook but it won't work. Time to pay the piper Jeff.

 

[J.Otto]

keeep it coming! lol

 

[100/hour/5y]

Not....
The REAL SICK OUT is coming in AUG...
L

 

[Dewey Oxberger]

Not....
The REAL SICK OUT is coming in AUG...
L

Uh, no it won't. That would be an illegal job action and against the RLA. Mgt's refusal to properly staff this airline and the impending fallout will do much more for our cause than anything illegal ever could. Have you seen UAL stock today?

 

[ForgedBlade]

MESSAGE TO ALL CONTINENTAL PILOTS
July 28, 2011

Continental states that it has seen a significant increase in pilot sick leave above normal levels and that this increase is associated with flight cancellations; they say they believe this is part of an effort by some pilots to disrupt operations and pressure the Company in JCBA negotiations.

We do not know whether management is correct in their claims, or if the cause of any cancellations is related to sick calls, but we do know that ALPA and the Continental MEC strongly oppose actions of any pilot or group of pilots designed to disrupt Continental’s operations. This includes any use of sick leave for any purpose other than what it was designed to do. We all need to perform our normal duties and make every reasonable effort to maintain reliable operations. If you have read or heard anything that you think suggests otherwise, disregard it.

Pilots who do not follow these directions undermine the interests of all of our members. They place not only their union at legal risk but also themselves and their fellow pilots. They do not advance our ability to negotiate a JCBA -- they make it more difficult.

We have made clear to management that we expect them to do their part to settle issues as required by the Railway Labor Act, but we cannot be diverted by their inability to move our negotiations to a timely conclusion or even to staff our airline adequately for the current season. We have to fulfill our responsibilities whether or not they do the same.

In short, disruptive actions must not take place and if they have taken place, they must stop.

Captain Jay Pierce
Chairman
CAL MEC

 

[densoo]

MESSAGE TO ALL CONTINENTAL PILOTS
July 28, 2011

Continental states that . . .

Captain Jay Pierce
Chairman
CAL MEC

Well put. It's not true that there's a sickout, but Continental wants to say there is to make excuses for not having enough bodies.

 

[bizicmo]

Reserve coverage has been negative for about 2 weeks now, it finally catches up with them and they claim a sick out?!?!?!?!?