Carrier Hopes To Entice Pilots To Retire Early

It's another sign of the times, as airlines look to cut back their working ranks. Continental Airlines reached an agreement with representatives of the airline's branch of the Air Line Pilots Association this week, on voluntary incentives to entice pilots to retire or otherwise leave the carrier.

The Houston Chronicle reports the agreement includes terms on schedule modifications and leaves of absence, all part of the union's effort to curb the threat of furloughs as Continental slashes capacity due to record fuel prices.

As ANN reported, Continental will cut domestic mainline capacity by 11 percent after the summer travel season. The airline also plans to cut 3,000 jobs across its entire workforce.

Mark Adams, head of ALPA's communications committee at Continental, said the agreement should ease the sting for many pilots who might have otherwise been handed their walking papers.

"If we get the levels of participation we are hoping for, it would have a significant impact on the involuntary furloughs of our junior pilots," he said. ALPA spokeswoman Amy Flanagan added the airline hopes to convince pilots already eligible for retirement to leave the carrier.

"These are for senior pilots, who already are eligible to retire," Flanagan said. "It is a way for them to retire a little earlier than they might have otherwise with a little extra cash."

As for younger pilots, if they chose to leave the airline voluntarily they will retain benefits over a minimum of 18 months.

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