Pilot False Safety Concerns During Merger
United’s Smisek Says Pilot Union Leaders ’Crossing a Line’
By Mary Jane Credeur
November 17, 2011 2:01 PM EST
United Continental Holdings Inc. (UAL) Chief Executive Officer Jeff Smisek criticized a pilots union for making “inappropriate” safety complaints on changes to flying procedures while negotiating a new contract.
Pilots from United Airlines and Continental Airlines are still in separate union chapters after a merger that formed the world’s biggest airline, and United pilots sued to block new flying procedures.
“Unfortunately, they are crossing a line that is shameful and inappropriate between safety and industrial relations,” Smisek said today at the Wings Club in New York.
More than 100,000 flights have occurred since the new procedures took effect, and the changes were approved by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration as part of the merger integration plan, showing that safety isn’t in question, he said.
“If there are ever any legitimate safety concerns, I assure you we will be responsive,” he said. “We have examined all these issues very closely.”
To contact the reporter on this story: Mary Jane Credeur in Atlanta at [email protected]
To contact the editor responsible for this story: James Langford at [email protected]
United’s Smisek Says Pilot Union Leaders ’Crossing a Line’
By Mary Jane Credeur
November 17, 2011 2:01 PM EST
United Continental Holdings Inc. (UAL) Chief Executive Officer Jeff Smisek criticized a pilots union for making “inappropriate” safety complaints on changes to flying procedures while negotiating a new contract.
Pilots from United Airlines and Continental Airlines are still in separate union chapters after a merger that formed the world’s biggest airline, and United pilots sued to block new flying procedures.
“Unfortunately, they are crossing a line that is shameful and inappropriate between safety and industrial relations,” Smisek said today at the Wings Club in New York.
More than 100,000 flights have occurred since the new procedures took effect, and the changes were approved by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration as part of the merger integration plan, showing that safety isn’t in question, he said.
“If there are ever any legitimate safety concerns, I assure you we will be responsive,” he said. “We have examined all these issues very closely.”
To contact the reporter on this story: Mary Jane Credeur in Atlanta at [email protected]
To contact the editor responsible for this story: James Langford at [email protected]
