Hopes To Cut Senior FA Positions, And Reduce Costs

In a quest to reduce personnel costs, US Airways plans to offer a buyout plan to up to 314 East Coast-based flight attendants.

The Arizona Republic reports the measure is tied to the airline's previously-announced closure of its Pittsburgh crew base, as reported by ANN. The number relates to the 314 flight attendants now based at PIT, though FA's throughout the airline's network may apply for the buyout.

To qualify, flight attendants must have at least 15 years of seniority from the former, pre-America-West-merger US Airways as of October 3. Those applying will receive a one-time $20,000 payout, before taxes, as well as travel benefits and other perks.

The Association of Flight Attendants had hoped for better terms, trying as recently as last week to get a higher payout and better travel bennies... but the union said US Airways management simply wouldn't budge on those terms.

AFA President Mike Flores said the union's master executive council decided "the good outweighed the bad" in voting unanimously to accept the buyout offer.

The buyout plan is intended to cut US Airways employee costs, by eliminating higher-paid FA positions. It's cheaper for the airline to hire and train new workers, than pay those who have been on the job for years.

FMI: www.usairways.com, www.afanet.org