Loose seats amplify maintenance issues as American pilots continue to picket for contracts


Skift Take

Other stories have pointed out clearly what the real challenge is here: The pilots don't trust management and management is attempting to wring more concessions out of the pilots. It's a recipe for nothing getting done.

American Airlines pilots picketed at New York's LaGuardia Airport Monday to protest recent pay and benefit cuts as well as squash accusations that pilots are behind the recent surge in flight cancellations and delays. The Allied Pilots Association began picketing at major domestic airports in mid-September in lieu of a strike, which they are legally banned from holding under the Railway Labor Act. The pilots are calling for contractual terms that are on par with other major airlines and are unanimously in support of a merger with US Airways with whom they've drawn up a sample contract. Despite their frustrations, the pilots claim there is no organized effort causing the delays. [caption id="attachme