Posted on 02/16/2019 11:53:16 PM PST by blueplum
Full title: Southwest Airlines declares an 'operational emergency' due to grounded jets and 'threatens to fire mechanics who don't show up for work' as hundreds of planes are delayed or canceled
Southwest Airlines has declared an 'operational emergency' due to grounded jets and threatened to fire mechanics who don't show up for work, according to reports. In a company memo seen by CNBC the carrier said notes from doctors were needed if they were 'alleging illness' after an unusually high number of planes needed maintenance work. Hundreds of their planes were delayed Friday, according to flight-tracking site FlightAware. Up to 100 were canceled, more than any other US airline.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
A little off topic but I was on a flight sitting next to a guy in a pilots uniform, but not that of an airline. He was a pilot for private jets taking a commercial flight home. He told me it would be cheaper for anyone to buy and refurbish their own 737 than any of the small business jets - the parts, maintenance, labor, skill set to fly them are all in abundance. He said a new windshield on a Leer Jet is tens of thousands of dollars but for a 737 just a small fraction of the cost.
There is a reason that Southwest only flies 737s. It’s not just the costs I mentioned but also lower costs all around - everyone gets the same exact training. No need for special crews trained in different jets etc... So something is amiss to have 100 jets grounded.
Now that I mention it, even Trump flew around in a 757 - not the 737 but also not a luxury business jet.
There were 100 flights cancelled.
Herb Kelleher is rolling over in his grace.
grace=grave
I have a flight reservation with them next month. I hope this issue is over by then.
bump
seems a bit odd. Did a little background and the airline has been in ‘contract talks’ with the mechanics union for 6 years, unions allegedly told mechanics to refuse overtime to pressure SW into talks 2017, SW sued, all supposed to have been settled 2018 but mechanics rejected Sep 2018 SW offer ( whatever that was). The good news is, there may be some mechanic positions open at several maintenance hubs.
Democrats will sue in the 9th circuit...
He got that thing for a song and the way the modular tracks where created , it was future proof, ensuring it could always be updated and maintained at a predictable cost...
You dont think he had grace?
/S
I have heard bad things about current airline leadership.
You must always, and only, blame union workers here at FR.
Is southwest going to go the way of hostess foods? Woekers bankrupt the company, it gets bought out and Their product sucks now.
Southwest is non union I think
What’s the matter? Why so angry? Why so insulting?
Sounds like both sides could be right.
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