Airline's Resurgent Passenger Loads Often Force Pilots Into Exhausting Lines, Says Council Chairman

Delta Pilots have picketed the airline's largest hub in Atlanta, Georgia in protest of company scheduling practices that employees say force them to overextend themselves to maintain the company. 

Current scheduling, they say, makes the pilots "fly long days or work additional days to keep the airline running," and fear that the imminent spring break and summer travel seasons will only exacerbate the problem and further reduce employee quality of life. 

ALPA representatives recognized the issue, with chairman of the Delta Master Executive Council of the ALPA, Jason Ambrosi, saying that company pilots have "flown record amounts of overtime during the pandemic to help Delta operate its schedule and get our passengers safely to their destinations." He said that pilots were "picketing today because it’s time for Delta management to fix our schedules. In many cases, pilots are flying long after their day or trip was supposed to end. Delta cannot continue to operate the schedule at redline with no room for error.”

Ambrosi emphasized that despite their difficult circumstances, safety has never been in jeopardy - after all, he said, "ALPA’s motto is “Schedule with Safety.” He said that Delta pilots feel that "too often we are being pushed to our limits as Delta tries to add back flying and capture revenue," referencing the difficulties experienced as the airline returns to a post-pandemic operational rhythm. "We’re here today to tell management that they need to listen to their pilots and fix fatiguing schedules.”

The pickets come at a stressful time between pilots and company brass, as they currently negotiate their new contract. The talks resumed in January after being postponed for 2 years, and ALPA is not content to leave the scheduling issues to be addressed by the contract. They say the time is now, as Ambrosi noted. 

“Pilots are mission-oriented and want to deliver the best service in the industry, but we are also humans with limitations. Not every day is blue skies. Weather disruptions and other operational issues can cause flight delays and cancellations. Our customers deserve better,” he said.

FMI: www.alpa.org