Takes Issue With Plan To Hire OpenSkies Pilots From Outside BA Ranks

The Allied Pilots Association, collective bargaining agent for the 12,000 pilots of American Airlines, expressed its "unequivocal support" this week for British Airways’ pilots in the ongoing outsourcing dispute at the UK carrier.

As ANN reported, British Airways announced a new, stand-alone airline named OpenSkies scheduled to operate between New York and Paris beginning in June, using a single Boeing 757 configured with 82 seats in premium business, business and coach classes. Further plans call for six 757s by the end of next year.

Like their counterparts at the British Air Line Pilots Association (BALPA,) American Airlines pilots take issue with the fact OpenSkies pilots will not be drawn from the existing British Airways pilots' seniority list, but rather hired from the outside for lower pay.

"As far as outsourcing is concerned, the British Airways pilots’ struggle is our struggle," said APA President Captain Lloyd Hill. "Accordingly, we have pledged a broad range of support to our fellow pilots at British Airways, including personnel and financial resources, to help resist plans by their airline’s management to establish an alter ego operation."

The union notes 86 percent of British Airways pilots voted earlier this month to authorize a strike in response to management’s plans for OpenSkies. A strike would be the first in almost 30 years for British Airways pilots... although such action appears unlikely in the short term, as both sides recently agreed to arbitration.

"Our pilots have experienced firsthand the career damage brought about by outsourcing," Hill said. "We stand foursquare behind our British Airways colleagues in their efforts to stop this threat to our collective livelihoods."

FMI: www.alliedpilots.org, www.britishairways.com, www.balpa.org