Low & Slow

Forwarded from e-mail:

Recall Update

We have offered voluntary recall to all 2172 pilots that were furloughed. 873 of those pilots elected to bypass their initial recall opportunity, and we are now contacting those pilots a second time (in reverse seniority order), offering a choice to either return or resign.

Not surprisingly, a substantial majority of the junior-most pilots, who are well into a different career or seniority list by now, are electing to resign. For example, “return or resign” letters have been sent to the 100 junior-most furloughees; of the 73 who have responded to-date, eight are returning, three are transitioning to military leave, and 62 are resigning.

On the flip side, a sizable number of senior pilots on the bypass list are calling off bypass to return this spring, and accordingly our first five recall classes of 2007 have been or are filled. Additionally, senior bypass pilots have already filled 13 positions in the sixth class of the year, to begin on April 9.

Looking forward, we are still on track to recall 300-400 pilots this year. In the event the resignation rate stays high, Flight Ops and Human Resources are beginning to design an updated pilot new-hire program.