Today the Charlotte Observer reported pilots, who have emerged as leaders in the effort to save the airline, said they liked what they saw Wednesday.
"We are upbeat," said pilot spokesman Jack Stephan. "For a long time this airline has sat sluggishly on the sidelines as the rest of the industry changed.
"But the company was emphatic that things can't happen unless a new cost structure is put into place," Stephan said, since reduced fares must be accompanied by reduced costs. "It won't do any good to do one without the other."
While pilots embraced the new operating plan, other unions were more skeptical. James Root, president of the Charlotte local of the Communications Workers of America, said little new information emerged at the meeting. But Root, who heard a report on the meeting from a CWA representative who attended, added: "Any plan that changes the way we do business is better than what we're doing."
Root said he hopes to learn more details of what the airline expects from gate agents and ticket agents at a union meeting with the airline officials Friday. Flight attendant leaders will meet with airline officials today.
Although S&P analyst Philip Baggaley said in his report issued Wednesday that the airline faces a difficult challenge, he noted he anticipates that the airline "will succeed in securing material labor cost concessions," and that it will retain access to financing for most or all of its planned deliveries of regional jets.
US Airways spokesman David Castelveter said that although the aircraft financing by General Electric Capital Corp. and manufacturers had been tied to maintaining a B credit rating, the airline is in discussions to amend the agreement.
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Regards,
USA320Pilot
"We are upbeat," said pilot spokesman Jack Stephan. "For a long time this airline has sat sluggishly on the sidelines as the rest of the industry changed.
"But the company was emphatic that things can't happen unless a new cost structure is put into place," Stephan said, since reduced fares must be accompanied by reduced costs. "It won't do any good to do one without the other."
While pilots embraced the new operating plan, other unions were more skeptical. James Root, president of the Charlotte local of the Communications Workers of America, said little new information emerged at the meeting. But Root, who heard a report on the meeting from a CWA representative who attended, added: "Any plan that changes the way we do business is better than what we're doing."
Root said he hopes to learn more details of what the airline expects from gate agents and ticket agents at a union meeting with the airline officials Friday. Flight attendant leaders will meet with airline officials today.
Although S&P analyst Philip Baggaley said in his report issued Wednesday that the airline faces a difficult challenge, he noted he anticipates that the airline "will succeed in securing material labor cost concessions," and that it will retain access to financing for most or all of its planned deliveries of regional jets.
US Airways spokesman David Castelveter said that although the aircraft financing by General Electric Capital Corp. and manufacturers had been tied to maintaining a B credit rating, the airline is in discussions to amend the agreement.
See Story Here
Regards,
USA320Pilot
