All the Continental Airlines pilots furloughed after the 11 September terrorist attacks have now returned to their jobs, making Continental the first legacy carrier to recall all its furloughed pilots.
Continental also becomes the first legacy carrier to begin hiring new pilots since the attacks. Around 100 new recruits have begun training this month. The pilots had already been accepted at Continental and were scheduled for classes in 2001, before the attacks.
The remaining 19 furloughed pilots returned to work to begin retraining under a brand new labour contract on 1 April, which contains a "no furlough" clause.
"This is the last act required by our old contract," says Capt Jay Panarello, chairman of the Continental Master Executive Council, a unit of the Air Line Pilots Association. "It guaranteed those who were furloughed the opportunity to return to active service by today and now that guarantee has been fulfilled."
Source: Flight International
