Saguaro
07-30-2007, 03:57 PM
MINNEAPOLIS - Northwest Airlines' troubles aren't getting any better. The airline canceled more than 600 flights since Friday, continuing its flight disruptions on Monday.
The carrier canceled more than 100 flights by midday Monday, according to FlightStats.com. Northwest grounded 225 flights on Sunday, 178 flights on Saturday and 125 flights on Friday, the Web site reported.
The company continues to attribute the problem to pilot absenteeism.
The Northwest branch of the Air Line Pilots Association released a phone message to members late last week stating that it didn’t believe there had been an improper use of sick time. If there was, the union suggested, it was caused by stress from increased flying hours.
The union has maintained that Northwest doesn’t have enough pilots to fly its full schedule.
Northwest canceled more than 1,000 flights the last week of June, citing pilot availability and other factors, and announced this month that it had thinned out its July schedule and cut its August schedule by 4 percent to try to prevent a repeat.
The carrier also began recalling furloughed pilots and said it expects to hire 200 to 250 pilots in the next year. Furloughed pilots must be retrained before they can resume flying.
Northwest pilots have generally flown heavier schedules since agreeing to a new contract with the airline while it was in bankruptcy court. Northwest emerged from bankruptcy May 31. MSNBC video
Under their current contract, Northwest pilots can fly up to 90 hours per month, up from 80 hours previously. The system counts only the time from when the plane is pushed back from the departure gate until it pulls up to the arrival gate, not any preflight or postflight work.
The Eagan-based carrier announced earlier this month that it had thinned out its July schedule and cut its August schedule by 4 percent to try to prevent a repeat.
"We are confident that the measures we are taking will address and remedy our operational challenges," Steenland wrote Friday. "The unfortunate reality is that a problem such as this cannot be solved overnight. The steps we are taking — schedule reductions, new pilot training, changes in pilot bidding patterns and other remedial measures — take time to implement. We are implementing these changes as fast as possible."
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20001082/?GT1=10150
The carrier canceled more than 100 flights by midday Monday, according to FlightStats.com. Northwest grounded 225 flights on Sunday, 178 flights on Saturday and 125 flights on Friday, the Web site reported.
The company continues to attribute the problem to pilot absenteeism.
The Northwest branch of the Air Line Pilots Association released a phone message to members late last week stating that it didn’t believe there had been an improper use of sick time. If there was, the union suggested, it was caused by stress from increased flying hours.
The union has maintained that Northwest doesn’t have enough pilots to fly its full schedule.
Northwest canceled more than 1,000 flights the last week of June, citing pilot availability and other factors, and announced this month that it had thinned out its July schedule and cut its August schedule by 4 percent to try to prevent a repeat.
The carrier also began recalling furloughed pilots and said it expects to hire 200 to 250 pilots in the next year. Furloughed pilots must be retrained before they can resume flying.
Northwest pilots have generally flown heavier schedules since agreeing to a new contract with the airline while it was in bankruptcy court. Northwest emerged from bankruptcy May 31. MSNBC video
Under their current contract, Northwest pilots can fly up to 90 hours per month, up from 80 hours previously. The system counts only the time from when the plane is pushed back from the departure gate until it pulls up to the arrival gate, not any preflight or postflight work.
The Eagan-based carrier announced earlier this month that it had thinned out its July schedule and cut its August schedule by 4 percent to try to prevent a repeat.
"We are confident that the measures we are taking will address and remedy our operational challenges," Steenland wrote Friday. "The unfortunate reality is that a problem such as this cannot be solved overnight. The steps we are taking — schedule reductions, new pilot training, changes in pilot bidding patterns and other remedial measures — take time to implement. We are implementing these changes as fast as possible."
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20001082/?GT1=10150