AAflyer
Well-known member
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- Nov 26, 2001
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If we allow this to creep in, it will cause problems for ALL of us.
AAflyer
February 28, 2008
Transatlantic flights face shutdown as US pilots back protest at BA
David Robertson
British Airways's dispute with its pilots over the establishment of a new subsidiary airline could spread to the United States and shut down two thirds of transatlantic flights.
Pilots working for American Airlines, which has a partnership agreement with BA, said yesterday that they would “unequivocably support” the BA pilots' union. BA's pilots are threatening to strike over the airline's decision to set up a separate division called Open Skies, which will operate from cities such as Paris and Brussels to New York.
The British Air Line Pilots' Association (Balpa) is worried that BA will use its new division to introduce a low-cost operating structure that will lead to reduced pilot salaries and benefits. The Allied Pilots Association, representing 12,000 AA pilots, is concerned that the idea will spread and that United States-based carriers might try to follow suit.
Captain Lloyd Hill, the APA president, said: “As far as outsourcing is concerned, the British Airways pilots' struggle is our struggle. Accordingly, we have pledged a broad range of support to our fellow pilots at British Airways, including personnel and financial resources, to help to resist plans by their airline's management to establish an alter ego operation.”
RELATED LINKS
BA passengers face flight chaos from strikes
BA pilots use crash as weapon in dispute
Last week, 86 per cent of the 3,000 BA pilots who are Balpa members voted to strike over the Open Skies proposal. BA and Balpa said yesterday that they would try to resolve their differences through Acas, the concilliation service. Talks will begin on March 3.
A strike by BA pilots would be the first in nearly 30 years and would cripple the airline. The support of American Airlines pilots will put extra pressure on BA, as its partner could also be grounded by the action.
About 68 per cent of all traffic between Heathrow and the United States is carried by AA and BA and industrial action at both would have a substantial impact on transatlantic travel.
Mr Hill added: “Our pilots have experienced first-hand the career damage brought about by outsourcing. We stand foursquare behind our British Airways colleagues in their efforts to stop this threat to our collective livelihoods.”
BA is proposing to begin Open Skies services from June, using old Boeing 757 aircraft. If the project is successful, it will extend the venture to include flights from Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Madrid and Milan to the United States.
AAflyer
February 28, 2008
Transatlantic flights face shutdown as US pilots back protest at BA
David Robertson
British Airways's dispute with its pilots over the establishment of a new subsidiary airline could spread to the United States and shut down two thirds of transatlantic flights.
Pilots working for American Airlines, which has a partnership agreement with BA, said yesterday that they would “unequivocably support” the BA pilots' union. BA's pilots are threatening to strike over the airline's decision to set up a separate division called Open Skies, which will operate from cities such as Paris and Brussels to New York.
The British Air Line Pilots' Association (Balpa) is worried that BA will use its new division to introduce a low-cost operating structure that will lead to reduced pilot salaries and benefits. The Allied Pilots Association, representing 12,000 AA pilots, is concerned that the idea will spread and that United States-based carriers might try to follow suit.
Captain Lloyd Hill, the APA president, said: “As far as outsourcing is concerned, the British Airways pilots' struggle is our struggle. Accordingly, we have pledged a broad range of support to our fellow pilots at British Airways, including personnel and financial resources, to help to resist plans by their airline's management to establish an alter ego operation.”
RELATED LINKS
BA passengers face flight chaos from strikes
BA pilots use crash as weapon in dispute
Last week, 86 per cent of the 3,000 BA pilots who are Balpa members voted to strike over the Open Skies proposal. BA and Balpa said yesterday that they would try to resolve their differences through Acas, the concilliation service. Talks will begin on March 3.
A strike by BA pilots would be the first in nearly 30 years and would cripple the airline. The support of American Airlines pilots will put extra pressure on BA, as its partner could also be grounded by the action.
About 68 per cent of all traffic between Heathrow and the United States is carried by AA and BA and industrial action at both would have a substantial impact on transatlantic travel.
Mr Hill added: “Our pilots have experienced first-hand the career damage brought about by outsourcing. We stand foursquare behind our British Airways colleagues in their efforts to stop this threat to our collective livelihoods.”
BA is proposing to begin Open Skies services from June, using old Boeing 757 aircraft. If the project is successful, it will extend the venture to include flights from Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Madrid and Milan to the United States.
