Originally Posted by Boomer

Per the CBA, JetBlue needs to give 60 days notice before furlough, and then offer voluntary furloughs before assigning involuntary furloughs. Furloughed pilots will be paid 75 hours per month for up to 6 months. Then you have the cost of retraining (downgrades and equipment) realigning bases with the remaining pilots, displacement/relocation costs, and so on. You also have to consider the training costs when the furlough ends and everyone shuffles back to their old seat and equipment.

Jetblue must realize that, from the time they pull the trigger, it will be at least 9 or 10 months, maybe closer to a year, before they save any money with a furlough.

Better to offer 50-hour incentive lines each month. Save money now, instead of a year from now, and have the flexibility to change staffing (each seat, plane, and base) every month as the situation develops.