Widespread industrial action by flight crew, with the likelihood of more in the peak traffic months from July to September, is raising fears that lack of airline investment in pilot training over the years has resulted in a crew shortage, giving flight crew the advantage in negotiations. The International Federation of Airline Pilots Associations (IFALPA) insists that there is no international conspiracy, but that pilots definitely have the upper hand.
IFALPA's industrial specialist Stan Clayton-Smith also predicts selective action by pilots working for the big alliances. Pilots are monitoring any attempts to transfer work to the lower-paid crews or lower-cost airlines in an alliance, and Clayton-Smith warns that "there might be some attempts to level up" by lower-paid alliance members.
At European no-frills carriers like Ryanair, EasyJet, Go and Buzz, the urgent need for pilots created by the sector's rampant expansion has led to the pilots - and experienced recruits - getting healthy pay or benefits improvements without having to resort to industrial action. But full-frills carriers may well be hoping that the traffic downturns resulting from the US economic slump may take some of the steam out of pilot-power.
Source: Flight International
