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►Feud with mechanics: Southwest declares operations emergency "Despite the challenges we face, Southwest Airlines values and respects all employees and will never seek to make light of issues that are important to you,'' the memo to flight attendants said. In a memo to employees, Southwest called the timing "coincidental and unfortunate.'' The airline said it has used the same line in previous ads, posting one from a June Facebook post.Īfter the union's concerns were raised, the airline said it changed the wording within two hours. The union alleges that Southwest took a swipe at its new slogan in an online fare sale ad this week, with a pitch for $49 tickets accompanied by the line, "Yes way.'' And all of us are trying to keep the jobs we love, keep our customers happy and keep our carrier in the air.'' Many of us are making choices that can have grave impact to our jobs, our customers and our company. Some of us – far too many of us – are sick. "Flight attendants are weary, exhausted, frustrated and forgotten. "But today, we write to tell you that we have given all we have left to give,'' the letter says. Employees say they put the airline and its customers first during the pandemic, sometimes above their own families, and have "rolled with the changes'' and "untenable work conditions'' the pandemic brought. The airline's flight attendants union, Transport Workers Union Local 556, this week sent a letter to Southwest CEO Gary Kelly demanding fixes. The flight attendants have begun virtual picketing with the slogan, "No way, SWA,'' promoting it via a petition, and the pilots are planning airport picketing during the busy holiday travel season at the end of the year. The large employee groups, which are each in union contract negotiations with the airline, have been pressing Southwest for changes but say they have seen limited relief. So they are taking the pressure up a notch and to the public. They also have issues with the airline's COVID protocols for flight crews who are notified of exposure to the virus. So far in August, Southwest has canceled 3.3% of its flights, fewer than American but higher than United and Delta, according to Cirium.įlight crews say their work schedules have been thrown into disarray, with trips repeatedly extended at the last minute to cover shortfalls, and a scramble to find hotels and food on the road, shortening typical rest periods between flights. In July, Southwest canceled 1.6% of all flights, including international flights, about equal to American and fewer than United (2.3%) but far more than Delta. Significant flight cancellations and delays continued in July and so far in August, according to aviation data firm Cirium, though United and American also struggled, in some cases faring worse. Department of Transportation Friday and had the second lowest on-time arrival rate after budget carrier Allegiant. carrier in June, according to figures on domestic flights released by the U.S. The airline canceled a higher percentage (3.3%) of flights than any U.S. They say they are fed up with what they see as Southwest's haphazard planning for and handling of the post-vaccination travel surge. Van de Ven's update to employees, which included an apology, comes against a backdrop of growing acrimony among Southwest pilots and flight attendants. ►Spirit Airlines woes: Airline cutting flights into September as August meltdown cost $50 million Southwest flight attendants, pilots fuming ►American Airlines cancellations: Airline proactively cancels 1,000 July flights "We're taking a serious look at flight levels to ensure that our flying aligns with the staffing needed to operate within this more complicated COVID environment.'' Van de Ven said Southwest is evaluating its flight schedules for the October-December quarter, which includes the busy holiday travel season, but did not offer specifics. ►Record penalties: FAA proposed fines against unruly passengers top $1 million
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