July 6, 2000
AWA Operations
This past Fourth of July weekend was yet another example of management’s ineptitude.
More than 50 of our flights were cancelled because the company didn’t perform routine
and scheduled maintenance on our planes. I don’t know about you, but it seems to me
that common sense did not prevail here. AWA clearly underestimated its
customers and overestimated itself.
The sad truth is that we appear to be on the same path as Alaska Airlines. As you may
know, Alaska is going through its own maintenance problems, many of which are strikingly
similar to our own. For example, in today’s Wall Street Journal, Alaska’s
president and CEO Bill Ayer admits that the airline’s problems stem from its rapid
growth. Although its traffic numbers and capacity have significantly increased, the
airline’s hiring, training, and maintenance programs have not been stepped up to
match the growth. As a result, Alaska has cancelled flights, and is now under extreme FAA
and public scrutiny. The FAA had even threatened to yank the airline’s authority to
do heavy maintenance on its fleet, or to even subcontract the work.
Sound familiar? Wasn’t it just two years ago that the FAA fined America West five
million dollars because of its maintenance problems. You’d think that would have
gotten AWA back on track, but apparently, management isn’t paying attention. And
unfortunately, our customers are paying the price, and the employees continue to have to
make excuses for management’s lack of vision.
Vacation Cancellations
ALPA Membership
Local Council Meeting
Committee Hotlines
That’s it for this week. The next hotline update will be on Thursday, July 13. Thanks
for listening.
- AWA Operations
- Vacation Cancellations
- ALPA Membership
- Local Council Meeting
- Committee Hotlines
| MEC Hotline | ||
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