Continental Airlines has furloughed 148 pilots after working with its union to eliminate an additional 326 positions through voluntary measures.
The Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) chapter at Houston-based Continental says that the majority of the jobs preserved were saved when pilots took retirement incentives or leaves of absence as well as agreed to reductions in the number of hours flown.
"The pieces really came together for this effort,"says carrrier ALPA head Jay Pierce.
But he also countered that ALPA firmly believes "that furloughing 148 pilots, a relatively small number given the 500 pilots who were initially sent furlough notices, does not accomplish the strategic savings a typical furlough would net. It is our belief that the best interests of Continental would be better served by preserving these jobs in order to have the ability to rapidly respond to an ever-changing industry."
Source: Air Transport Intelligence news
