United Airlines’ Denver Hiring Spree Draws Hundreds from Guam

United Airlines’ Denver Hiring Spree Draws Hundreds from Guam

Sep 8, 2023 | Featured News, Front Page, Other News, Recent News, Recent News, Row 2, United

United Airlines’ Denver Hiring Spree Draws Hundreds from Guam

IAM141.org
September 8, 2023

United Airlines officials announced today that 460 residents of Guam have relocated to Denver after accepting positions as ramp agents, following a 2-day job fair held on the island in January.

The move follows months of efforts by the airline to fill vacancies and hire new agents for a planned expansion in Denver, which is planned to eventually add about 1,800 new workers. About 2,600 Guam residents applied for the jobs, with 460 making it through the highly-specialized hiring process.

Entry-level wages in the Denver area start at around $20 an hour, with the union-negotiated payscales topping out at about $90,000 a year. Despite the high pay and union-protected job security, United has struggled to find new hires to work at Denver International. Efforts to find new workers have involved moving bonuses ranging well into the thousands of dollars.

Recently, United Airlines CFO Gerry Laderman dismissed speculation that the carrier could move its Headquarters from Chicago to Denver despite its recent purchase of over 100 acres of land near Denver International Airport.

Laderman was asked about the possible move at a September 6 investment conference.

“There are no imminent plans for that,” Laderman told the TD Cowen 16th annual Global Transportation Conference investors. “We have a long-term lease at the Willis Tower, our Headquarters. We’ve been there for decades in Chicago.”

The carrier recently purchased over 100 acres near Denver International Airport as part of a multi-million dollar expansion in the region, which includes a renewed presence at Colorado Springs. The investments led to some media speculation that the airline was considering relocating its Headquarters to the Denver area.

Laderman compared Denver to Houston, the home of former Continental Airlines, until the airline’s 2010 merger with United Airlines. “It’s fair to say Denver is like Houston. “We have a lot of facilities in Houston, and our in-flight training center’s there,” he said. “We have all sorts of operations there,” he continued. “Denver’s the same way.”

“We’ve outgrown it,” he said. “So one of the first things we’ll do with that new space we have is we have now a location to be able to expand the flight training center. And then over the years, we’ll find other opportunities.”

The idea that United might be interested in relocating to Denver is plausible; the land purchase was just the most recent action fueling such speculation. Denver is the second-busiest hub in United’s system, ranking right behind Houston’s IAH.

Denver rarely sees the types of stormy weather found in Chicago or Houston, where severe weather is a near-constant concern. Annually, Denver sees an average of 300 days of sunshine. Its position in the center of the United States would also give the carrier a Headquarters located about the same distance from its primary hubs, including San Francisco, Newark, Houston, and Chicago.

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United Airlines’ Denver Hiring Spree Draws Hundreds from Guam

September 8, 2023

United Airlines officials announced today that 460 residents of Guam have relocated to Denver after accepting positions as ramp agents, following a 2-day job fair held on the island in January.

The move follows months of efforts by the airline to fill vacancies and hire new agents for a planned expansion in Denver, which is planned to eventually add about 1,800 new workers. About 2,600 Guam residents applied for the jobs, with 460 making it through the highly-specialized hiring process.

Entry-level wages in the Denver area start at around $20 an hour, with the union-negotiated payscales topping out at about $90,000 a year. Despite the high pay and union-protected job security, United has struggled to find new hires to work at Denver International. Efforts to find new workers have involved moving bonuses ranging well into the thousands of dollars.

Recently, United Airlines CFO Gerry Laderman dismissed speculation that the carrier could move its Headquarters from Chicago to Denver despite its recent purchase of over 100 acres of land near Denver International Airport.

Laderman was asked about the possible move at a September 6 investment conference.

“There are no imminent plans for that,” Laderman told the TD Cowen 16th annual Global Transportation Conference investors. “We have a long-term lease at the Willis Tower, our Headquarters. We’ve been there for decades in Chicago.”

The carrier recently purchased over 100 acres near Denver International Airport as part of a multi-million dollar expansion in the region, which includes a renewed presence at Colorado Springs. The investments led to some media speculation that the airline was considering relocating its Headquarters to the Denver area.

Laderman compared Denver to Houston, the home of former Continental Airlines, until the airline’s 2010 merger with United Airlines. “It’s fair to say Denver is like Houston. “We have a lot of facilities in Houston, and our in-flight training center’s there,” he said. “We have all sorts of operations there,” he continued. “Denver’s the same way.”

“We’ve outgrown it,” he said. “So one of the first things we’ll do with that new space we have is we have now a location to be able to expand the flight training center. And then over the years, we’ll find other opportunities.”

The idea that United might be interested in relocating to Denver is plausible; the land purchase was just the most recent action fueling such speculation. Denver is the second-busiest hub in United’s system, ranking right behind Houston’s IAH.

Denver rarely sees the types of stormy weather found in Chicago or Houston, where severe weather is a near-constant concern. Annually, Denver sees an average of 300 days of sunshine. Its position in the center of the United States would also give the carrier a Headquarters located about the same distance from its primary hubs, including San Francisco, Newark, Houston, and Chicago.

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99% Flight Attendants at American Vote to Authorize a Strike

99% Flight Attendants at American Vote to Authorize a Strike

Aug 31, 2023 | American, Front Page, Perusals, Recent News, Row 2

99% Flight Attendants at American Vote to Authorize a Strike

IAM141.org
August 31, 2023

On Wednesday, the Association of Professional Flight Attendants (APFA) announced that American Airlines’ flight attendants have voted in favor of going on strike if the company doesn’t agree to fair contract terms.

According to the APFA, which represents over 26,000 flight attendants at the airline, a staggering 99.47% of the flight attendants have voted to approve a strike.

“Today, we sent a clear message to American Airlines management,” said APFA National President Julie Hedrick. “We are fired up and ready for a contract. They ignore this strike vote at their peril,” she continued. “Our contributions to the success of American Airlines must be recognized and respected.”

The Union is asking to be paid for time spent on the job. Currently, American only pays the Union for the time they spend in the air; the time spent working while on the ground is unpaid. This is done at other airlines, such as Delta, which pays flight crews “boarding pay.”

APFA is also asking for scheduling improvements and better work / life balance.

The vote doesn’t necessarily indicate that a strike is on the immediate horizon. U.S. federal legislation sets high barriers for airline unions to legally go on strike. A federal mediator must declare that continued talks would be futile, a determination that is seldom made. Additionally, intervention from the President or Congress could further postpone or prevent a strike.

Should federal mediation fail to convince the company to offer the Union a fair agreement, the APFA has the option to enter a 30-day cooling-off period. After this period, the flight attendants would be permitted to initiate a strike.

Amid a strong labor market backdrop and growing public support for unions, unionized workers such as pilots, airline workers, and delivery drivers are experiencing increased leverage in negotiations.

Next week, a coalition of labor unions at United Airlines will hold a historic summit at the Machinists Union District Headquarters in Chicago. The meeting will include representatives from the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT), the Association of Flight Attendants (AFA), the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), and the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers.

Last week, American Airlines’ pilots ratified a new four-year contract featuring over $9.6 billion in total pay and benefits increases. This move is part of the airline’s competitive strategy against industry rivals like United Airlines and Delta Air Lines.

On August 9, following two years of talks, Transport Workers Union Local 555, the Union representing 19,000 Southwest employees in areas like ramp operations, provisioning, and freight, finalized an agreement with the Dallas-based airline. Pending approval from union members, the new contract would include increased wages and 12 weeks of parental leave, among other benefits. Union members are scheduled to vote on the agreement from September 8 to September 20.

Notably, the pay increases at Southwest are the same as those negotiated on behalf of thousands of Machinists Union at United. The new agreement would grant top-of-scale pay for ground workers of $36.72.

As travel demand remains robust, airlines are scrambling to increase staffing. This urgency has empowered workers to negotiate for better pay and improved work conditions.

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EAP Peers:        February is often a month that people are struggling with finances after the holidays. We focus on a government agency that has some terrific resources - the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau. This agency has a myriad of resources to help with any...

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99% Flight Attendants at American Vote to Authorize a Strike

August 31, 2023

On Wednesday, the Association of Professional Flight Attendants (APFA) announced that American Airlines’ flight attendants have voted in favor of going on strike if the company doesn’t agree to fair contract terms.

According to the APFA, which represents over 26,000 flight attendants at the airline, a staggering 99.47% of the flight attendants have voted to approve a strike.

“Today, we sent a clear message to American Airlines management,” said APFA National President Julie Hedrick. “We are fired up and ready for a contract. They ignore this strike vote at their peril,” she continued. “Our contributions to the success of American Airlines must be recognized and respected.”

The Union is asking to be paid for time spent on the job. Currently, American only pays the Union for the time they spend in the air; the time spent working while on the ground is unpaid. This is done at other airlines, such as Delta, which pays flight crews “boarding pay.”

APFA is also asking for scheduling improvements and better work / life balance.

The vote doesn’t necessarily indicate that a strike is on the immediate horizon. U.S. federal legislation sets high barriers for airline unions to legally go on strike. A federal mediator must declare that continued talks would be futile, a determination that is seldom made. Additionally, intervention from the President or Congress could further postpone or prevent a strike.

Should federal mediation fail to convince the company to offer the Union a fair agreement, the APFA has the option to enter a 30-day cooling-off period. After this period, the flight attendants would be permitted to initiate a strike.

Amid a strong labor market backdrop and growing public support for unions, unionized workers such as pilots, airline workers, and delivery drivers are experiencing increased leverage in negotiations.

Next week, a coalition of labor unions at United Airlines will hold a historic summit at the Machinists Union District Headquarters in Chicago. The meeting will include representatives from the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT), the Association of Flight Attendants (AFA), the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), and the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers.

Last week, American Airlines’ pilots ratified a new four-year contract featuring over $9.6 billion in total pay and benefits increases. This move is part of the airline’s competitive strategy against industry rivals like United Airlines and Delta Air Lines.

On August 9, following two years of talks, Transport Workers Union Local 555, the Union representing 19,000 Southwest employees in areas like ramp operations, provisioning, and freight, finalized an agreement with the Dallas-based airline. Pending approval from union members, the new contract would include increased wages and 12 weeks of parental leave, among other benefits. Union members are scheduled to vote on the agreement from September 8 to September 20.

Notably, the pay increases at Southwest are the same as those negotiated on behalf of thousands of Machinists Union at United. The new agreement would grant top-of-scale pay for ground workers of $36.72.

As travel demand remains robust, airlines are scrambling to increase staffing. This urgency has empowered workers to negotiate for better pay and improved work conditions.

 

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More Info About the ‘That MF’s Not Real’ Airplane Incident

More Info About the ‘That MF’s Not Real’ Airplane Incident

Aug 8, 2023 | American, EAP, Featured, Front Page, Perusals, Recent News, Row 2

“The Full Story Behind the Viral ‘That MF’s Not Real’ Airplane Incident”

IAM141.org
August 8, 2023

By now, everyone in the airline industry knows about the “That MF’s Not Real” Incident that happened on a 2 July American Airlines flight headed to Orlando from Fort Worth.

Here’s a recap:

 

The Dallas Airport Police have now made public the report filed after the meltdown, revealing more of the story. 

The woman experiencing the mental health crisis is 38-year-old Tiffany Gomas, a marketing executive and head of Uppercut Marketing. According to a now-removed LinkedIn page, Gomas is a “Top-performing sales leader, Fortune 50 Account Manager & Project Management Executive.”

The meltdown was filmed by several passengers on American Airlines flight 1009 from Fort Worth, some of which have been viewed millions of times. One of the passengers aboard the flight was comedian Carrot Top, who also posted his commentary about the incident on one of his social media accounts.

In the video, Gomez says, “I’m telling you, I’m getting the f*** off, and there’s a reason why I’m getting the f*** off and everyone can either believe it or they can not believe it.”

“I don’t give two f****, but I am telling you right now – that m*****f***** back there is NOT real,” she continued, pointing toward the back of the airplane. “And you can sit on this plane and you can die with them or not. I’m not going to.”

The police report says two officers responded to the disturbance to find Gomas standing in the jet bridge. However, she refused to speak to officers and left the area. 

The report indicates that Gomas seemed very upset, tearfully stating the flight wouldn’t safely reach Florida. The officer informed her she couldn’t board the plane and issued her a trespass notice before escorting her out of the secure areas of the airport. 

She has removed her presence from social media platforms, with her Facebook and Pinterest accounts no longer available. Additionally, her Instagram profile has been set to private.

Gomas told police the incident “was sparked by an argument over wireless headphones.”

A report by journalist Bree Dail says that an American Airlines supervisor said, “The female passenger was arguing with a family accusing them of stealing her air pods. The female then started claiming that the aircraft was not safe and did not want the aircraft to leave due to her believing it would not make it to its destination.” A report by the Daily Mail claims her home is valued at around $2 million.

Despite having her ticket revoked, she later returned to TSA and cleared screening before being escorted out of the secured areas a second time. According to the police report, she could pass TSA screening because her boarding pass was still showing as valid in the TSA database. Since she technically cleared all the steps of the screening process, no breach of security occurred. 

 

Your Employee Assistance Program (EAP) has your back.

Navigating life’s challenges, from mental health struggles to substance abuse, becomes easier with our dedicated EAP. As valued union members, you’re entitled to free, confidential, and compassionate support. Beyond personal care, we help demystify insurance and company policies, ensuring you access the best care possible. Remember, your well-being is our priority. Reach out to EAP whenever you need; we’re here to guide and stand by you.

Help can start today: CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE

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February Helping Hands: Financial Health

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EAP Peers:        February is often a month that people are struggling with finances after the holidays. We focus on a government agency that has some terrific resources - the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau. This agency has a myriad of resources to help with any...

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More Info About the Viral ‘That MF’s Not Real’ Airplane Incident

August 8, 2023

By now, everyone in the airline industry knows about the “That MF’s Not Real” Incident that happened on a 2 July American Airlines flight headed to Orlando from Fort Worth.

Here’s a recap:

The Dallas Airport Police have now made public the report filed after the meltdown, revealing more of the story. 

The woman experiencing the mental health crisis is 38-year-old Tiffany Gomas, a marketing executive and head of Uppercut Marketing. According to a now-removed LinkedIn page, Gomas is a “Top-performing sales leader, Fortune 50 Account Manager & Project Management Executive.”

The meltdown was filmed by several passengers on American Airlines flight 1009 from Fort Worth, some of which have been viewed millions of times. One of the passengers aboard the flight was comedian Carrot Top, who also posted his commentary about the incident on one of his social media accounts.

In the video, Gomez says, “I’m telling you, I’m getting the f*** off, and there’s a reason why I’m getting the f*** off and everyone can either believe it or they can not believe it.”

“I don’t give two f****, but I am telling you right now – that m*****f***** back there is NOT real,” she continued, pointing toward the back of the airplane. “And you can sit on this plane and you can die with them or not. I’m not going to.”

The police report says two officers responded to the disturbance to find Gomas standing in the jet bridge. However, she refused to speak to officers and left the area. 

The report indicates that Gomas seemed very upset, tearfully stating the flight wouldn’t safely reach Florida. The officer informed her she couldn’t board the plane and issued her a trespass notice before escorting her out of the secure areas of the airport. 

She has removed her presence from social media platforms, with her Facebook and Pinterest accounts no longer available. Additionally, her Instagram profile has been set to private.

Gomas told police the incident “was sparked by an argument over wireless headphones.”

A report by journalist Bree Dail says that an American Airlines supervisor said, “The female passenger was arguing with a family accusing them of stealing her air pods. The female then started claiming that the aircraft was not safe and did not want the aircraft to leave due to her believing it would not make it to its destination.” A report by the Daily Mail claims her home is valued at around $2 million.

Despite having her ticket revoked, she later returned to TSA and cleared screening before being escorted out of the secured areas a second time. According to the police report, she could pass TSA screening because her boarding pass was still showing as valid in the TSA database. Since she technically cleared all the steps of the screening process, no breach of security occurred. 

Your Employee Assistance Program (EAP) has your back.

Navigating life’s challenges, from mental health struggles to substance abuse, becomes easier with our dedicated EAP. As valued union members, you’re entitled to free, confidential, and compassionate support. Beyond personal care, an EAP Representative can help demystify insurance and company policies, ensuring you access the best care possible. Remember, your well-being is our priority. Reach out to EAP whenever you need; we’re here to guide and stand by you.

Help can start today: CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE

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February Helping Hands: Financial Health

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Association Update: Attendance Policy and Holiday Pay Arbitrations

Association Update: Attendance Policy and Holiday Pay Arbitrations

Aug 1, 2023 | American, Front Page, Row 2, The Association

Recording Secretaries – Please print and post on all IAMAW Bulletin Boards. GET PRINTABLE COPY >>

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Association Update: Attendance Policy and Holiday Pay Arbitrations

August 1, 2023

The Association is pleased to report to the membership we have received long-awaited awards for both the Attendance Policy and Holiday Pay Arbitrations. Grievances were filed against American Airlines, Inc. and its interpretation of collective bargaining agreements covering Association members in M & R, MCT, MLS, MTS, and Fleet Service.

In both cases, arbitrators concurred with the Association and ruled American was in violation of the agreements. In regard to the Attendance Policy award, the arbitrator ruled that many of the guidelines of the policy must be rewritten and must align with what was discussed and understood in negotiations.

The arbitrator stated that AA did not use discretion when imposing discipline nor did it allow for extenuating circumstances for absences. The award also stated that there was no consistency in the application of the policy or in the assessment of points and that the company excessively penalized employees for using “bona fide” sick time.

The arbitrator also concluded that the part of the policy regarding the “critical operations period,” was in violation as well. The award in the Holiday Pay arbitration was even more complete. The arbitrator ruled that American violated Article 22 of all agreements and must pay employees Holiday pay while on unpaid FMLA, OJI (On-the- job injuries), and military leave.

The Association thanks the law firm of Phillips Richard and Rind, PA., for its dedicated efforts in helping secure these victories for our members. Overall, this is a solid win for the members of the Association. We are committed to fighting for our members and preserving the intent and meaning of the language in our agreements. In Solidarity, 

Recording Secretaries: Please print and post on all IAMAW bulletin boards.

Get Printable Copy

United CEO Scott Kirby Takes a Private Jet Amid Thousands of Flight Cancellations

United CEO Scott Kirby Takes a Private Jet Amid Thousands of Flight Cancellations

Jul 1, 2023 | Front Page, Other News, Recent News, Row 2, United

United CEO Scott Kirby Takes a Private Jet Amid Thousands of Flight Cancellations

IAM141.org
July 1, 2023

Scott Kirby, the CEO of United Airlines, issued an apology on Friday for his decision to board a private aircraft amidst the flight cancellation chaos that left thousands of United’s passengers stranded around the nation earlier this week.

Kirby did not know that chartering a private jet because he could not depend on his airline would outrage stranded passengers. Once informed of the backlash, he issued a characteristically tone-deaf statement of remorse. “Taking a private jet was the wrong decision because it was insensitive to our customers who were waiting to get home,” Kirby said in response. “I sincerely apologize to our customers and our team members who have been working around-the-clock for several days — often through severe weather — to take care of our customers.”

Kirby ended his statement with a vow to better embody his respect for his team’s dedication and the customers’ unwavering loyalty.

The private flight taken by Kirby was from Teterboro, New Jersey, to Denver on Wednesday. This was the same day United canceled a staggering 750 flights, accounting for one-fourth of the day’s entire schedule. This count doesn’t include the cancellations related to United Express flights. Over the week, United canceled approximately 3,000 flights, with the highest number reported at its hub, Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey, which has been wracked by chronic staffing issues. The lack of adequate staffing left the airline helpless in the face of typical if heavy, mid-summer thunderstorms.

Kirby blamed the disruption in Newark over the previous weekend to a shortage of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) air traffic controllers. In an internal communication, he told employees the FAA had “let us down” by restricting the frequency of landings and departures at the airport, where United is a significant presence.

In response to Kirby’s accusations, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) were quick to call out the United CEO.

Buttigieg pointed out that every airline in the region experienced the same weather as United. But only Scott Kirby’s airline saw such mass cancellations and delays. “Look, United Airlines has some internal issues they need to work through,” the Transportation Secretary said in an interview with CNN. “They’ve really been struggling this week, even relative to other U.S. airlines,” he continued.

“I want to be very clear, air traffic control issues are not the number one issue causing cancellations and delays. They’re not even the number two issue. All the data, including industry’s own data is very clear on that,” he said.

Pilots at United echoed the criticisms of the Department of Transportation. “United’s travel disruptions this week stem from one source; Company senior management’s inadequate planning and insufficient investment in the airline infrastructure,” the Union said.

“Our pilots agree with our passengers that this lack of foresight and disregard of warning signs is unacceptable. It’s time for United leadership to change their thinking and invest in its labor, staff support, and facilities with updated contracts instead of ensuring our CEO has the highest salary.”

Pilots at United have been locked in seemingly endless contract negotiations at United. Talks are now in the fifth year as United management refuses to modernize the routing systems that organize flight schedules. According to airline pilots, this failure is resulting in too many pilots “timing out” during their schedules. (For safety reasons, pilots are legally barred from flying too many hours without rest breaks.) When pilots are required by law to stop flying, the airline often has to scramble to find new flight crews who can legally fly.

The high number of canceled flights led to the displacement of United’s planes and crews, severely impeding the airline’s functioning when adverse weather conditions struck on Sunday, as explained by Kirby. As the operational difficulties continued throughout the week, Pete Buttigieg, the Transportation Secretary whose department includes the FAA, noted on Twitter that, barring United, other airlines had bounced back from the storm’s impact. To emphasize this point, he shared a bar graph that compared United’s cancellation rate with the rest of the industry.

There has been some improvement in United’s operations since the middle of the week. FlightAware, a flight tracking service, indicated that the percentage of canceled flights dropped from 26% on Wednesday to 18% on Thursday and further down to 8% by Friday evening. However, even on Friday, United was still leading all U.S. carriers in the number of canceled flights for the seventh consecutive day.

United has committed to rectifying its operations before the anticipated busy July 4 holiday weekend. On Thursday alone, the Transportation Security Administration screened more than 2.7 million people, and a similar or larger crowd was expected on Friday.

The frustration of United passengers was made public via social media and interviews, with many talking about long queues at the airport and being forced to sleep in the terminals after flights were canceled. Unions representing United’s pilots and flight attendants joined in the criticism, accusing the management of inadequate planning, crew scheduling, and operating excessive flights.

The Chicago-based United clarified that it did not pay for Kirby’s private flight on Wednesday. Kirby, who has a net worth of at least $45 million, can more than cover the costs of private charter jets. The airline refused to comment whether Kirby often uses private planes for travel.

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February Helping Hands: Financial Health

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EAP Peers:        February is often a month that people are struggling with finances after the holidays. We focus on a government agency that has some terrific resources - the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau. This agency has a myriad of resources to help with any...

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United CEO Scott Kirby Takes a Private Jet Amid Thousands of Flight Cancellations

July 1, 2023

Scott Kirby, the CEO of United Airlines, issued an apology on Friday for his decision to board a private aircraft amidst the flight cancellation chaos that left thousands of United’s passengers stranded around the nation earlier this week.

Kirby did not know that chartering a private jet because he could not depend on his airline would outrage stranded passengers. Once informed of the backlash, he issued a characteristically tone-deaf statement of remorse. “Taking a private jet was the wrong decision because it was insensitive to our customers who were waiting to get home,” Kirby said in response. “I sincerely apologize to our customers and our team members who have been working around-the-clock for several days — often through severe weather — to take care of our customers.”

Kirby ended his statement with a vow to better embody his respect for his team’s dedication and the customers’ unwavering loyalty.

The private flight taken by Kirby was from Teterboro, New Jersey, to Denver on Wednesday. This was the same day United canceled a staggering 750 flights, accounting for one-fourth of the day’s entire schedule. This count doesn’t include the cancellations related to United Express flights. Over the week, United canceled approximately 3,000 flights, with the highest number reported at its hub, Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey, which has been wracked by chronic staffing issues. The lack of adequate staffing left the airline helpless in the face of typical if heavy, mid-summer thunderstorms.

Kirby blamed the disruption in Newark over the previous weekend to a shortage of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) air traffic controllers. In an internal communication, he told employees the FAA had “let us down” by restricting the frequency of landings and departures at the airport, where United is a significant presence.

In response to Kirby’s accusations, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) were quick to call out the United CEO.

Buttigieg pointed out that every airline in the region experienced the same weather as United. But only Scott Kirby’s airline saw such mass cancellations and delays. “Look, United Airlines has some internal issues they need to work through,” the Transportation Secretary said in an interview with CNN. “They’ve really been struggling this week, even relative to other U.S. airlines,” he continued.

“I want to be very clear, air traffic control issues are not the number one issue causing cancellations and delays. They’re not even the number two issue. All the data, including industry’s own data is very clear on that,” he said.

Pilots at United echoed the criticisms of the Department of Transportation. “United’s travel disruptions this week stem from one source; Company senior management’s inadequate planning and insufficient investment in the airline infrastructure,” the Union said.

“Our pilots agree with our passengers that this lack of foresight and disregard of warning signs is unacceptable. It’s time for United leadership to change their thinking and invest in its labor, staff support, and facilities with updated contracts instead of ensuring our CEO has the highest salary.”

Pilots at United have been locked in seemingly endless contract negotiations at United. Talks are now in the fifth year as United management refuses to modernize the routing systems that organize flight schedules. According to airline pilots, this failure is resulting in too many pilots “timing out” during their schedules. (For safety reasons, pilots are legally barred from flying too many hours without rest breaks.) When pilots are required by law to stop flying, the airline often has to scramble to find new flight crews who can legally fly.

The high number of canceled flights led to the displacement of United’s planes and crews, severely impeding the airline’s functioning when adverse weather conditions struck on Sunday, as explained by Kirby. As the operational difficulties continued throughout the week, Pete Buttigieg, the Transportation Secretary whose department includes the FAA, noted on Twitter that, barring United, other airlines had bounced back from the storm’s impact. To emphasize this point, he shared a bar graph that compared United’s cancellation rate with the rest of the industry.

There has been some improvement in United’s operations since the middle of the week. FlightAware, a flight tracking service, indicated that the percentage of canceled flights dropped from 26% on Wednesday to 18% on Thursday and further down to 8% by Friday evening. However, even on Friday, United was still leading all U.S. carriers in the number of canceled flights for the seventh consecutive day.

United has committed to rectifying its operations before the anticipated busy July 4 holiday weekend. On Thursday alone, the Transportation Security Administration screened more than 2.7 million people, and a similar or larger crowd was expected on Friday.

The frustration of United passengers was made public via social media and interviews, with many talking about long queues at the airport and being forced to sleep in the terminals after flights were canceled. Unions representing United’s pilots and flight attendants joined in the criticism, accusing the management of inadequate planning, crew scheduling, and operating excessive flights.

The Chicago-based United clarified that it did not pay for Kirby’s private flight on Wednesday. Kirby, who has a net worth of at least $45 million, can more than cover the costs of private charter jets. The airline refused to comment whether Kirby often uses private planes for travel.

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February Helping Hands: Financial Health

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The Perfect Storm: How Weather and Staffing Woes Are Disrupting US Airlines

The Perfect Storm: How Weather and Staffing Woes Are Disrupting US Airlines

Jun 28, 2023 | Front Page, MNPL, Other News, Recent News, United

The Perfect Storm: How Weather and Staffing Woes Are Disrupting US Airlines

IAM141.org
June 28, 2023

The past week saw a surge of US airline passengers left high and dry as extreme weather caused a multitude of grounded planes and flight cancellations. However, the weather was only a part of the larger issue causing the travel disruption.

There is a glaring scarcity of staff across US airlines and the Federal Aviation Administration’s air traffic control operations, escalating the already difficult circumstances.

The state of affairs saw a slight improvement on Wednesday at US airports. The FlightAware tracking service reported that about 800 flights were canceled, and an additional 1,400 were delayed by midday ET. Stormy weather around Boston caused an early morning ground stop on Wednesday, holding aircraft bound for Logan Airport at the gate or on the tarmac at various national airports.

Although this shows some progress compared to the 2,200 flights canceled on each of the two previous days and more than 16,000 delayed flights between Monday and Tuesday, the operation is far from running smoothly.

Staffing Issues

One of the key reasons why the US air travel system cannot recover rapidly from widespread weather disruptions is the need for more staff to manage these interruptions.

Despite a substantial injection of $54 billion of taxpayer money into airlines during the pandemic, many airlines considerably scaled back staff during the initial pandemic year when air travel and fares declined. They offered buyouts and early retirement packages, though involuntary layoffs were prohibited. Several airlines also permanently retired older, less efficient planes. The rehiring of staff has proved slower than airlines had promised.

Domestic US airline capacity, calculated by the number of available seats adjusted for miles flown, is still down 10% in the current quarter compared to Q2 2019, before the pandemic, according to data from Cirium, an aviation analytics company.

Additionally, finding available seats for passengers on canceled flights becomes a significant problem, particularly during peak travel periods.

The Transportation Security Administration predicts that this coming Friday, the beginning of the four-day July Fourth weekend will be the busiest air travel day since the pandemic began.

In an interview published by CBS News, Delta CEO Ed Bastian noted that the current situation has improved from last year. However, he conceded to investors that his airline “still [is] not running as optimally as it needs to run. We have improvements we can make. Substantial improvements, over where we were last summer.”

FAA Difficulties

In the same CBS News report, United’s CEO partly largely blamed the FAA for his failure to staff and organize the airline. The FAA, he argued, limited the flight frequency to and from major urban areas such as the three airports in and around New York City. United bore the brunt of the cancellations and delays, mostly centered at its’ hub in Newark.

United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby expressed his dissatisfaction with the FAA in an internal company memo, stating, “The FAA frankly failed us this weekend,” a sentiment he shared with CBS News. Over the weekend, the airline had to cancel 461 flights and postpone 1,972 flights, as per FlightAware data.

In the CBS interview, Kirby claimed that on Saturday, the FAA reduced the arrival and departure rates at its sprawling Newark Liberty International Airport hub by 40% and 75%, respectively. “And that put everyone behind the eight ball when weather actually did hit on Sunday and was further compounded by FAA staffing shortages Sunday evening.”

Kirby, who depends on the goodwill of Federal regulators for authorizations and clearances critical to the airline, was careful to stop short of appearing to cast blame on FAA Leadership. 

In response to Kirby’s criticism, an FAA spokesperson responded by saying they are always willing to collaborate with anyone seriously committed to solving a problem.

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, at an unrelated event in South Carolina on Wednesday, shared his thoughts on the situation. He affirmed that conditions have improved compared to last year but acknowledged the need for further progress. He applauded the airlines for their efforts and identified the weather as a significant contributor to the current issues. He refrained from commenting specifically on United’s concerns about the problems caused by the FAA and its air traffic control system.

In the CBS News report, Buttigieg stated, “Anything under our control at the FAA we’re going to be working on and anything under the airlines’ control, they need to step up and take responsibility.” He relayed his travel difficulties to South Carolina, including one cancellation and one delay, which resulted in his arrival being postponed to 2:30 am. He expressed empathy for the plight of many Americans undergoing similar experiences.

In Houstons’ Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), hundreds of stranded passengers were stranded overnight on Monday, many of whom were forced to sleep in communal rows on the airport floor. The passengers, most of whom were traveling on United, did not have access to restaurants or food. Water was only available via water fountains, and only two restrooms were available. 

The storms or staffing shortages did not directly impact Bush Airport but were still the victim of cascading failures elsewhere in the system. One ramp employee said that none of the early morning “Head Start” flights, which the airline tries to send out early if possible, had departed on time for the past three days.

Union Intervention is Needed

However, one of the major unions at United, the Association of Flight Attendants, pointed out that the issue extended well beyond the FAA and included the airline’s management.

According to a memo shared with media outlets, the union expressed their mounting frustration, pointing out a long list of seemingly endless problems, particularly for those working extended hours. The memo, sent to members on Monday, highlighted extensive wait times with company crew schedulers, indicating problems beyond air traffic control staffing shortages.

When questioned about the flight attendants’ complaints, United responded that “making sure our flight attendants can reach us quickly is a top priority. We have deployed all available resources to catch up on call volume, including increasing staffing in crew scheduling and mandatory overtime on the scheduling team. We also have ways flight attendants can check in electronically for trips and schedule changes.” 

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The Perfect Storm: How Weather and Staffing Woes Are Disrupting US Airlines

June 28, 2023

The past week saw a surge of US airline passengers left high and dry as extreme weather caused a multitude of grounded planes and flight cancellations. However, the weather was only a part of the larger issue causing the travel disruption.

There is a glaring scarcity of staff across US airlines and the Federal Aviation Administration’s air traffic control operations, escalating the already difficult circumstances.

The state of affairs saw a slight improvement on Wednesday at US airports. The FlightAware tracking service reported that about 800 flights were canceled, and an additional 1,400 were delayed by midday ET. Stormy weather around Boston caused an early morning ground stop on Wednesday, holding aircraft bound for Logan Airport at the gate or on the tarmac at various national airports.

Although this shows some progress compared to the 2,200 flights canceled on each of the two previous days and more than 16,000 delayed flights between Monday and Tuesday, the operation is far from running smoothly.

Staffing Issues

One of the key reasons why the US air travel system cannot recover rapidly from widespread weather disruptions is the need for more staff to manage these interruptions.

Despite a substantial injection of $54 billion of taxpayer money into airlines during the pandemic, many airlines considerably scaled back staff during the initial pandemic year when air travel and fares declined. They offered buyouts and early retirement packages, though involuntary layoffs were prohibited. Several airlines also permanently retired older, less efficient planes. The rehiring of staff has proved slower than airlines had promised.

Domestic US airline capacity, calculated by the number of available seats adjusted for miles flown, is still down 10% in the current quarter compared to Q2 2019, before the pandemic, according to data from Cirium, an aviation analytics company.

Additionally, finding available seats for passengers on canceled flights becomes a significant problem, particularly during peak travel periods.

The Transportation Security Administration predicts that this coming Friday, the beginning of the four-day July Fourth weekend will be the busiest air travel day since the pandemic began.

In an interview published by CBS News, Delta CEO Ed Bastian noted that the current situation has improved from last year. However, he conceded to investors that his airline “still [is] not running as optimally as it needs to run. We have improvements we can make. Substantial improvements, over where we were last summer.”

FAA Difficulties

In the same CBS News report, United’s CEO partly largely blamed the FAA for his failure to staff and organize the airline. The FAA, he argued, limited the flight frequency to and from major urban areas such as the three airports in and around New York City. United bore the brunt of the cancellations and delays, mostly centered at its’ hub in Newark.

United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby expressed his dissatisfaction with the FAA in an internal company memo, stating, “The FAA frankly failed us this weekend,” a sentiment he shared with CBS News. Over the weekend, the airline had to cancel 461 flights and postpone 1,972 flights, as per FlightAware data.

In the CBS interview, Kirby claimed that on Saturday, the FAA reduced the arrival and departure rates at its sprawling Newark Liberty International Airport hub by 40% and 75%, respectively. “And that put everyone behind the eight ball when weather actually did hit on Sunday and was further compounded by FAA staffing shortages Sunday evening.”

Kirby, who depends on the goodwill of Federal regulators for authorizations and clearances critical to the airline, was careful to stop short of appearing to cast blame on FAA Leadership. 

In response to Kirby’s criticism, an FAA spokesperson responded by saying they are always willing to collaborate with anyone seriously committed to solving a problem.

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, at an unrelated event in South Carolina on Wednesday, shared his thoughts on the situation. He affirmed that conditions have improved compared to last year but acknowledged the need for further progress. He applauded the airlines for their efforts and identified the weather as a significant contributor to the current issues. He refrained from commenting specifically on United’s concerns about the problems caused by the FAA and its air traffic control system.

In the CBS News report, Buttigieg stated, “Anything under our control at the FAA we’re going to be working on and anything under the airlines’ control, they need to step up and take responsibility.” He relayed his travel difficulties to South Carolina, including one cancellation and one delay, which resulted in his arrival being postponed to 2:30 am. He expressed empathy for the plight of many Americans undergoing similar experiences.

In Houstons’ Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), hundreds of stranded passengers were stranded overnight on Monday, many of whom were forced to sleep in communal rows on the airport floor. The passengers, most of whom were traveling on United, did not have access to restaurants or food. Water was only available via water fountains, and only two restrooms were available. 

The storms or staffing shortages did not directly impact Bush Airport but were still the victim of cascading failures elsewhere in the system. One ramp employee said that none of the early morning “Head Start” flights, which the airline tries to send out early if possible, had departed on time for the past three days.

Union Intervention is Needed

However, one of the major unions at United, the Association of Flight Attendants, pointed out that the issue extended well beyond the FAA and included the airline’s management.

According to a memo shared with media outlets, the union expressed their mounting frustration, pointing out a long list of seemingly endless problems, particularly for those working extended hours. The memo, sent to members on Monday, highlighted extensive wait times with company crew schedulers, indicating problems beyond air traffic control staffing shortages.

When questioned about the flight attendants’ complaints, United responded that “making sure our flight attendants can reach us quickly is a top priority. We have deployed all available resources to catch up on call volume, including increasing staffing in crew scheduling and mandatory overtime on the scheduling team. We also have ways flight attendants can check in electronically for trips and schedule changes.” 

Related

February Helping Hands: Financial Health

February Helping Hands: Financial Health

Feb 8, 2024

EAP Peers:        February is often a month that people are struggling with finances after the holidays. We focus on a government agency that has some terrific resources - the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau. This agency has a myriad of resources to help with any...