American Airlines sees cancellations amid pilot protests

Texas-based American Airlines has seen a sharp rise in cancellations over the last week due to ongoing pilot protests.

Travel Insurance News - 20/09/2012

<< Stranded ferry passengers returned to Britain | Travel News | Insurance and travel regulations eased in China >>

Texas-based American Airlines has seen a sharp rise in cancellations over the last week due to ongoing pilot protests.

According to on-time performance watchdog FlightAware, American Airlines have cancelled more than 300 flights in the week leading up to Thursday, more than trebling the cancellation rates of other US airlines whilst its on-time rating dropped to the lowest in North America.

A spokesman said on behalf of American Airlines parent firm AMR Corp that the disruptions come as the result of pilots calling in sick and filing a higher amount of maintenance reports amid the firm’s cost-cutting scheme.

AMR Corp’s recovery efforts follow the carrier’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing in November after three years of losses and have seen the airline’s management move to negate current contracts with pilots through US federal authorities.

Despite the ongoing protests, labour unions continue to claim that the action is not sanctioned by any labour organisation.

Meanwhile, American Airlines officials announced on Wednesday that that the airline was cutting flights through the next month and a half to compensate for the disruptions. A spokesman said that this would allow passengers to be informed of cancellations well in advance rather than when they arrive at the airport.

<< Stranded ferry passengers returned to Britain | Travel News | Insurance and travel regulations eased in China >>