Pilots Pushing Wheelchairs in IAH?

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04-07-2012, 07:26 AM

EWR73FO

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Position: IAH 737 CA

Posts: 690

Pilots Pushing Wheelchairs in IAH?

How hard is it going to be to get a wheelchair now? Gotta wonder just who they have in mind to replace the guys flying through the airport yelling, "CART COMIN THROUGH".

PrimeFlight Aviation Services to lay off 276 in Houston - Nashville Business Journal

PrimeFlight Aviation Services To Lay Off 276 In Houston
Nashville Business Journal

Date: Friday, April 6, 2012, 9:30am CDT
Related: Travel, Logistics & Transportation, Jobs

Nashville-based PrimeFlight Aviation Services Inc. has filed notice with the Texas Workforce Commission that it will lay off 276 employees at George Bush International Airport (IAH) due to the termination of its contract with United Airlines.

PrimeFlight said in its March 29 Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification that it was recently notified that it lost a contract with United Airlines. PrimeFlight ends its current contract with United on May 15, 2012.
When PrimeFlight's contract ends, it will end most of its operations at IAH, including all positions related to the contract. These positions include 155 wheelchair pushers, 62 cart drivers, 29 passenger escorts, 16 supervisors, eight managers, five dispatchers and one office manager.

PrimeFlight, which provides airlines and airports with ground handling and terminal services, said its employees are not represented by a union, and none of them have bumping rights.

04-07-2012, 08:32 AM

Skybo

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I'll bet if a passenger needs a wheel chair, UAL will charge for it in advance. The days of freebie service are quickly coming to an end.

04-07-2012, 09:37 AM

Shrek

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Skybo

I'll bet if a passenger needs a wheel chair, UAL will charge for it in advance. The days of freebie service are quickly coming to an end.

BUT you will get a discount if ordered online !!

04-07-2012, 10:24 AM

Wingtips

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Skybo

I'll bet if a passenger needs a wheel chair, UAL will charge for it in advance. The days of freebie service are quickly coming to an end.

The ADA prevents this.

04-07-2012, 10:36 AM

Andy

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From the title, I thought this was going to be about another age change and pilots bringing their own wheelchairs on IDs.

04-07-2012, 10:45 AM

HSLD

APC co-founder

Joined APC: Feb 2005

Position: B777

Posts: 5,853

Following the regional model of Capacity Agreements, UA seems to be chasing the mantra of "leverage contracts to find the lowest bidder" with respect to wheelchair pushers. It's hard to believe thats possible after seeing the perfomance standards in the domestic US system.

Then again, Houston IS America's fattest city, maybe they contracted with forklift operators

Quote:

The airlines are required, under the Air Carrier Access Act, to provide wheelchair assistance upon request. If wheelchair assistance is not provided, then the passenger may request to speak with the airline’s Complaints Resolution Official (CRO). Each airline must have at least one CRO available at each airport during times of scheduled carrier operations. The CRO can be available by telephone.

Complaints dealing with wheelchair availability or those alleging discriminatory treatment by air carrier personnel can be directed to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Aviation Consumer Protection Division, which can be contacted as follows. (Hours are Monday – Friday, 9:00 am through 5:00 pm, Eastern Standard Time).

Voice: 800-778-4838
TDD/TTY: 1-800-455-9880
E-mail: [email protected]
Regular Mail:

Aviation Consumer Protection Division (C-75)
U.S. Department of Transportation
W96-432 (West Building)
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, D.C. 20590