A320 EOW
Jun 26, 02, 3:43 pm
http://www.post-gazette.com/businessnews/20020626usairp7.asp
US Airways, pilots agree on ticketing partnerships
Wednesday, June 26, 2002
By Jim McKay, Post-Gazette Staff Writer
The union representing pilots at US Airways has tentatively agreed to contract language that would permit the airline to engage in ticket-selling partnerships with other airlines for both domestic and international flights.
The tentative agreement on code-sharing, a key plank of the airline's revival plan, is part of larger labor negotiations under way between US Airways, the Air Line Pilots Association and other unions.
The airline yesterday acknowledged the tentative agreement on code sharing and said it viewed the settlement on that issue as an "indication of our constructive negotiations" with ALPA.
United and other airlines have expressed interest in a code-sharing arrangement with US Airways, and the company can now move forward in those negotiations. A spokesman for US Airways would not identify likely partners.
Such agreements typically allow airlines to sell tickets for either other's flights and to allow passengers to choose which airline's frequent-flier miles they want.
US Airways is seeking approximately $1.2 billion in annual concessions from its employees, suppliers and leaseholders as well as roughly $1 billion in government backed loans that it believes are crucial to its survival.
On Monday, US Airways said it was stopping payment to lenders and lessors for certain aircraft not essential to its day-to-day operations. The company said the "strategic" decision had the potential to push it into Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization.
US Airways is hoping to complete negotiations with labor unions representing its employees by this Friday, the statutory deadline for airlines to apply for government loan guarantees made available to the industry by Congress after Sept. 11. US Airways has already made an initial application for a loan guarantee.
Although it is not clear whether the company will meet that goal, it has apparently narrowed its differences with ALPA from which it is seeking $595 million annually in concessions over seven years.
US Airways, pilots agree on ticketing partnerships
Wednesday, June 26, 2002
By Jim McKay, Post-Gazette Staff Writer
The union representing pilots at US Airways has tentatively agreed to contract language that would permit the airline to engage in ticket-selling partnerships with other airlines for both domestic and international flights.
The tentative agreement on code-sharing, a key plank of the airline's revival plan, is part of larger labor negotiations under way between US Airways, the Air Line Pilots Association and other unions.
The airline yesterday acknowledged the tentative agreement on code sharing and said it viewed the settlement on that issue as an "indication of our constructive negotiations" with ALPA.
United and other airlines have expressed interest in a code-sharing arrangement with US Airways, and the company can now move forward in those negotiations. A spokesman for US Airways would not identify likely partners.
Such agreements typically allow airlines to sell tickets for either other's flights and to allow passengers to choose which airline's frequent-flier miles they want.
US Airways is seeking approximately $1.2 billion in annual concessions from its employees, suppliers and leaseholders as well as roughly $1 billion in government backed loans that it believes are crucial to its survival.
On Monday, US Airways said it was stopping payment to lenders and lessors for certain aircraft not essential to its day-to-day operations. The company said the "strategic" decision had the potential to push it into Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization.
US Airways is hoping to complete negotiations with labor unions representing its employees by this Friday, the statutory deadline for airlines to apply for government loan guarantees made available to the industry by Congress after Sept. 11. US Airways has already made an initial application for a loan guarantee.
Although it is not clear whether the company will meet that goal, it has apparently narrowed its differences with ALPA from which it is seeking $595 million annually in concessions over seven years.