Eagle: Latest and not so Greatest
Just in case anyone wanted "official news" about AA and AE...here is the latest and the greatest:
Capt. Jim Winkley briefed the Negotiating Committee on Wednesday’s announcement by Gerard Arpey that AMR capacity will be reduced by approximately 11 to 12 percent. With his permission, I am sharing his comments with you, in order to help answer the many questions that will come from this news.
Due to the increase in fuel costs and the softening economy, American Airlines will be parking 40 jets, most likely MD80’s and perhaps A300’s. AA will be considering each and every route on an individual basis in order to maximize profitability. Capacity reduction decisions will then be made on that analysis.
Similarly, American Eagle and American Connection will be parking between 35 to 40 regional jets, and an unknown amount of turboprops. Again, each route will be considered on an individual basis in order to determine where capacity will be reduced.
The capacity reduction is scheduled to begin in September of this year, but it is expected that the results of the analysis may not be known for several weeks. More detail will be shared when these decisions have been made. American Eagle, of course, will not know exactly where our reductions will be made until AA decides where their reductions will be made.
Due to these events, new hire classes are cancelled indefinitely. It is hoped that the pilots currently in training will bring our staffing to a manageable level, to balance the summer flying schedule against the planned reductions in September. While every effort will be made to mitigate the effect on the Eagle pilot group, displacements and furloughs will almost be a certainty.
While it is too early to make decisions about the turboprops, management is considering how to balance the efficiency of the Saabs and the ATRs against the inefficiencies of maintaining a smaller fleet. The Saabs, for example, are approaching their twentieth year in service, which triggers additional FAA required maintenance.
Captain Winkley reiterated how important these announcements are to Eagle pilots. However, it will be several weeks before any further decisions are made.
Capt. Rich Krutenat
MEC Communications Chairman