Loosening of scope is again emerging in the 29-month-long contract negotiations between American Airlines management and pilots as the union representing pilots claims management is seeking exemptions for the operation of Embraer E-Jets by American Eagle.
In its latest negotiation update, APA says that on 1 April "management began with a PowerPoint presentation that was actually a pitch for APA to allow a scope exception permitting Eagle to fly a 76-seat Embraer in a two-class configuration".
American Airlines management was not immediately available to comment on the E-Jet proposal.
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American Eagle flies 50-seat ERJ-145s. Its largest aircraft is the 70-seat Bombardier CRJ700.
American Airlines has one of the stricter scope arrangements with its pilots among the US major carriers. American Eagle is capped at 50-seat aircraft. In 2003 APA and American negotiated an exemption for the operation of 25 CRJ700s by American Eagle. But APA later disputed Eagle's operation of the remaining 25 aircraft. Flight's ACAS database still lists American Eagle as having 25 CRJ700 options.
Most of American Airlines' competitors have E-Jets in their regional feed including, Delta, United and US Airways.
Source: Flight International
