Tag Archives: NYSE:AMR

Delta Air Lines And Pilots Agree to Reinstate ASAP Program

This is great news.

As I had written in PlaneBusiness Banter in December, it did appear that Delta Air Lines and its pilot union were close to coming to an agreement which would see the airline reinstate its Aviation Safety Action Program.

This morning the airline announced just that.

From the airline’s release:

“Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL) has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to reinstate its Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP) covering pre-merger Delta pilots. The revised program mirrors an existing Northwest Airlines pilot ASAP program.”

In addition to the reinstated pilot ASAP, Delta has formal ASAP programs in place for its dispatchers and Technical Operations employees, and other safety reporting programs for flight attendants and ground employees. Delta also will continue ASAP programs currently covering pre-merger Northwest pilots, dispatchers and load planners, and other safety reporting programs for its other workgroups.

This means that almost 17,000 employees of the airline are now covered by some form of voluntary safety reporting system at Delta.

Excellent news. Just makes me want to do a little happy dance outside. Only problem is that if I did, I’d probably fall on the ice and break a limb. So — happy dance will be postponed until it’s a little warmer. (Yes, I’m at the Dallas-Ft.Worth branch office this week.)

We have two more major airlines and their pilots groups to beat into submission in regard to ASAP participation. And we all know which two airlines I am talking about. American Airlines and US Airways.

And no, as I told my PBB subscribers not too long ago, I’m not going to shut up until the last two stragglers are back in the fold. ASAP program participation is too valuable to all concerned.

Biggest Airline Stock Loser for the Week: American Airlines

I’m working on this week’s PBB. This week’s Market Review section to be more specific.

Just thought that it was worth noting that while shares of Southwest Airlines bounced around all over the place this week — when all the shouting was over, shares of the Dallas-based airline ended down 7% for the week, closing today at 8 bucks even.

They were not even a member of the select PlaneBusiness Basement Double-Digit Loser Group for the week.

No, the airline stock that took the award for posting the biggest loss for the week was AMR, parent of American Airlines, which saw shares drop a hefty 33% for the week, ending the week at 7.62.

This was far and away the worst performance notched by an airline this week, although Continental Airlines was down 17% for the week, closing at 17.22, as it took second place honors at the bar in the basement.

Other major airlines to post a double-digit decline for the week were Alaska Air Group, which was down 11%, closing at 26.56, and Delta Air Lines, which lost 10% to close at 10.26.

The vast majority of stocks we track at PlaneBusiness finished down for the week. The reason? The price of oil once again raised its ugly head as the week came to an end.

Oil futures closed Friday at 44.65/barrel — up 22% for the week.

Ouch.

I told you guys OPEC was going to get serious about cutting production this time. And….they seem to be doing just that.

American Airlines and The Allied Pilots Union: Ugly, Ugly

Trebor Banstetter over at the Ft. Worth Star-Telegram reports today that things got a little heated at a meeting yesterday between the negotiators for American Airlines and pilot union representatives.

AA blasts union, pilots walk out

Officials with American Airlines gave a presentation to federal mediators Zachary Jones and Mike Tosi yesterday that criticized the pilots union for its approach to contract negotiations. The presentation accused the union of refusing to negotiate, pushing for an impasse (which would allow the union to strike), and ignoring the economic realities of the airline industry. It’s strong stuff, and far more aggressive than most of the airline’s public comments about the talks with pilots, which have made little progress after more than two years. Shortly after beginning the presentation, union negotiators “opted to leave the session,” according to the airline.

Don’t you just love the holidays? The season brings out the warmth and the joy in everyone, wouldn’t you agree?