Between 100 And 200 Pilots To Fly For The Partner Airline

United Continental Holdings said Thursday that it will offer approximately 100 to 200 positions to pilots currently on furlough from its United subsidiary to fly aircraft for its Continental subsidiary. The positions will meet the needs currently anticipated for the combined company's operation in 2012.

"We are pleased that through cooperation with the Air Line Pilots Association, we are able to offer the opportunity for these United pilots to come back to work," said Fred Abbott, senior vice president of flight operations for the combined company. "We will continue to focus on negotiating a single contract for all of our pilots as we work towards our single operating certificate."

The United pilots welcomed the announcement. It is the hope of the United Chapter of the Air Line Pilots Association that these recalls are the first of a wave of recalls that will eventually lead to the return of all our 1,437 furloughed pilots. "When a furloughed United pilot returns to our cockpits, whether United or subsidiary Continental, it is welcome news," said United MEC Chairman Captain Wendy Morse. "No pilots have paid a higher price for the recent shocks to the aviation industry than the 1,437 United pilots who have been on furlough."

Training could begin as early as late September. While these pilots will be hired to staff Continental aircraft, they will retain seniority rights in position on the United pilot seniority list. The seniority lists of both carriers will only be merged after the completion of a Joint Collective Bargaining Agreement allowing United to recognize the benefits of finally completing the merger.

"We still have work to do to get the remaining United pilots off the street," added Capt. Morse. "We remain focused on securing a Joint Collective Bargaining Agreement with United and getting all of our pilots back to work. We look forward to that day and will not rest until they return."

FMI: www.continental.com, www.alpa.org/ual