Oversea's Airline Pilots - Better Off Then Our's?

[User546]

Forgive my ignorance on this subject here, but I'm curious.

Do European airline pilots ever have to face the battles that our airline pilots do, in the way of paycuts, concessions, furlough's, and all that nasty stuff that is taking the luster out of being an airline pilot?

Also, do they have any form of unions representing them like our airlines typically do?

 

[FlyChicaga]

Take a look over at www.pprune.org. It's populated by a lot of pilots from various other areas, mostly Europe. Things over there aren't all roses as you'd be led to believe. Many of the same LCC and infighting heartaches that are happening here. Just on a smaller scale.

 

[METARMan]

From what I understand in some cases it is even worse.

Many of Europe's legacy carriers were/are heavily funded by their respective national government. Since 9/11 they have had the same problems we've had in the States. Sabena, the Belgian airline and SwissAir have vanished and Altialia, the Italian airline has gone bankrupt, among others. Because of EU laws most of the governments can only bail out their respective national airline once.

However, some airlines...like AirFrance/KLM, have really done quite well the last few years.

Just like here, thousands of employees have lost jobs, etc. I guess the only benefit to being in Europe is that typically European unemployment benefits are better (women tend to be thinner and more attractive too, but I digress).

Another negative is that there are many more low cost carriers in Europe. I think last count was over 50. Ever hear of RyanAir? They are cheaper than any US airline you could imagine. Sometimes they even offer flights for free, and yes legacies like Aer Lingus must compete and offer 4 pound too.

The unions (for those legacies that have them) in Europe are typically stronger and they don't have the RLA to deal with. Typically, airlines in Europe can strike at will and do not need government intervention through mediation.

Each country has its own laws and economic specialities, however in a nutshell things in Europe suck too. In most cases there is little job security, lower pay and less unionization in the airline industry.

 

[dojetdriver]

From what I understand in some cases it is even worse.

(women tend to be thinner and more attractive too, but I digress).

.

I digress as well, but I wish the U.S. women could figure this concept out.

 

[aa73]

I digress as well, but I wish the U.S. women could figure this concept out.

They have, they just can't do anything about it.

 

[dojetdriver]

They have, they just can't do anything about it.

Any idea why?