United Offering Pilots A Month  Off At Reduced Pay

Cuts in service to China and other regions affected by the Coronavirus has led United Airlines to offer pilots to take a month off at reduced pay.

CNBC reports that the plan was revealed in a memo sent by the pilots' union to its members on Friday. Todd Isler, a United captain and chairman of the United MEC at ALPA, said the carrier is offering some pilots on those long-haul routes the month of April off at a rage of hours per month. Airline pilots are normally paid for roughly 80 hours per month.

“The reductions in block hours has resulted in lower line values and fewer flying opportunities in some fleets,” Insler said in the memo. “We are preparing for the possibility of further reductions to our schedules as the virus spreads.”

Airlines stocks took a major hit in the market selloff associated with the Coronavirus outbreak last week.

United is in contract negotiations with ALPA, but Insler said the cutbacks in flights will not have an impact on the union's negotiating strategy or timeline. "During negotiations both sides always keep economic cycles and external events in mind. Our goal remains ensuring we have a robust contract that protects our pilots throughout their careers in all economic cycles,” he said in the memo.

(Image from file)

FMI: Source report