In a situation not dissimilar to the one recently faced by Irish low-cost carrier Ryanair, American Airways faces having to cancel 15,000 flights between December 17 and 31, one of the carrier’s busiest periods of the year. The problem has arisen through a lack of available pilots as a result of a glitch in the system which enables pilots to book time off based on seniority.
One pilot, who did not wish to be named, had explained to a reporter that an app used by pilots to book time off had communicated incorrect data over pilot flight choices, and a number of pilots were offered the option of whether or not to fly certain routes over the Christmas holiday period. Understandably, the majority of pilots chose not to fly, and only after the glitch in the system was discovered did the airline establish it had insufficient pilots to cover routes and commence to rectify the situation.
“We have reserve pilots to help cover flying in December, and we are paying pilots who pick up certain open trips 150 percent of their hourly rate – as much as we are allowed to pay them per the contract,” American Airlines spokesman Matt Miller said on Wednesday. However, the pilots’ union, the Allied Pilots Association, filed a grievance, saying that some restrictions on overtime pay violated the group’s contract.
The union had also indicated that the airline had not reached out to them in a bid to resolve the issue. American is keen not to have to officially cancel any flights as aside from being disruptive to passengers, it could cost millions of dollars in lost revenue, only months after a mid-contract pay increase had been negotiated for pilots and flight attendants, temporarily dropping the share price.
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Mailing Address
AviTrader Publications Corp.
Suite 305, South Tower
5811 Cooney Road
Richmond, BC V6X 3M1
Canada