Troubled Colombian flag carrier Avianca has suffered another blow, with its pilots instigating a work to rule in a dispute over redundancies, writes Jackson Flores.
The airline has been reorganising under US Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection since March (as most of its creditors are US), and is negotiating with New York city courts to gain another extension before it submits its restructuring plan.
The pilots had already been angered by a union-negotiated wage increase and monthly flight hour workload changes, and instigated the industrial action after the laying off of 350 employees, including 96 pilots. The resulting cancellations and delays have generated a revenue loss of over $3 million.
Avianca's losses could increase further after the airline was forced to lease three Boeing 757-200s to enable it to honour its scheduled international services. It has also renewed leases on two 757-200s that are in use with the airline.
The disarray in the country's air transport market has been aggravated by an ongoing truckers' strike that has inhibited road transport between Colombia's major cities. If the crisis persists, the government has signalled its intention to temporarily transfer Avianca route permits to other domestic airlines.
Source: Flight International
