America West FlightFund (Discontinued Program) - America West Pilots React to Company Webcast

``As the election union leader for the 1,750 America West pilots, I must express the dismay and concern of the entire pilot group over the obviously poor planning and lack of sensitivity exhibited by our airline's senior management in a recent Webcast.

``Management's assertions to Wall Street investors and the news media that they have no intention of offering pay and benefits retroactively to our pilots, and no plan to accrue funds for the pilot contract, will in no way affect the course of our plans for negotiations.

``It is unfortunate that senior management's lack of foresight and consideration for the needs of our pilots might weaken our company's future financial strength. If they are simply trying to manage our expectations, they have seriously misjudged the results of their assertions. America West senior management seem to think they are under no pressure to come to an agreement. I can assure them that we have no intention of dragging out collective bargaining any longer than required to reach a contract settlement that is fair and acceptable to our pilots.
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/001019/fl_alpa_am.html

America West seeks mediation in pilot talks
http://biz.yahoo.com/rf/010502/n02247209.html

Pilots?, who needs 'em?......mechanics?, who needs 'em? clerical workers? who needs 'em?.......What's important is to maintain a low cost structure... http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/rolleyes.gif

Passengers, who needs them?

According to the 1999 annual reports the average America West passenger pays almost 10% less then the average Southwest passenger. (Revenue per Passenger Seat Mile, $.1145 vs. $.1233)

So much for the theory that passengers will pay more to travel on a "Full Service" airline.

You can fill up the planes with passengers who prefer a low price to a choice of airline through Priceline and the like, but it won't do more then help cut your losses.

As long as the bean counters rule at HP expect the same to continue.

Didn't Continental's Bethune say something like: "You can make a pizza so cheap that no one will eat it"

There's a rumor that Greg Brennerman may be going to HP at the request of David Bonderman, but that sounds too good to be true.

Time will tell! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

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``We feel that the pilots' proposal is not realistic,'' said America West spokesman Jim Sabourin. Sabourin said the two sides are so far apart, the airline believes that only a mediator can help.

The Air Line Pilots Association, however, claimed it's the airline that's not willing to reach an agreement.

The 1,800-member union is odds with America West over four main issues: pay, retirement, job security and scheduling.

http://biz.yahoo.com/apf/010503/america_west_pilots.html