Southwest Airlines reached a tentative agreement Thursday with its 5,800 pilots represented by the Southwest Airlines Pilots Assn. on switching some future 737-700 deliveries to -800s.
According to SWAPA, the agreement includes "a single pay rate for the 737, profitability-based raise added to the hard 2% raise in 2011, a contract extension with an amendable date extended to September 2012, and a profitability-based raise in 2012."
Has to go to vote. I am certain that the international portion of the future expansion will hinge dramatically on the 800's. This will be conveyed by your union leadership. You will have a pay raise without taking a single delivery of an 800. OK to pay Southwest pilots the same rate for 122/137 seats but can't pay the same for an aircraft that can be configured with 120-125?????? The 737-800 seats 162 passengers in a typical two-class layout, or up to 189 in one class.
For arguments sake lets meet in the middle on the 800 seating and make it 175 seats. More than a 50 seat difference from the 500 and almost 40 from the 300. You want to penalize the 717 crews because they have between (-7 to +3) seats depending on configuration for the 737-500 or (-20 to -12) seats compared to the 737-300. Take the rate and divide it by the seats on the 717 and the 737 (300/500/700/800). Now you have a rate that is dependant upon seat capacity and will pay accordingly. You can further differentiate the pay when it comes to overwater or international overrides. Does a 717 crew have LESS liability than a 735 crew? Does a 735 crew have LESS liability than a 737 crew?
You should be careful about cutting out crews because they carry less pax.... it could be used against you in future negotiations by the company.... if it is good for the goose it is good for the gander. I woud venture to bet that the 500's will be around a bit longer than what was previously expected. Expansion will come pretty quick when all of the markets start to interconnect.
