Delta Connection carrier Atlantic Southeast Airlines is furloughing 80 pilots as its flying decreases.
The furloughs, which go into effect Feb. 9, are the first in Atlanta-based ASA’s history. ASA has a total of 1,700 pilots, all based in Atlanta and represented by the Air Line Pilots Association
“The decision to furlough is a direct result of our economy that’s driving down demand,” said ASA spokeswoman Kate Modolo.
She said the airline is not furloughing any other employees.
“The idea is to work through this tough economic time and build our company stronger so we can get these pilots back with us as soon as possible,” Modolo said.
The furloughs at ASA come after Delta announced it plans to cut its capacity by 6 percent to 8 percent in 2009 and shrink its work force through buyouts. As a Delta Connection carrier, ASA is affected by Delta’s cutbacks in its flying.
Orlando-based AirTran, which has its main hub in Atlanta, announced last summer amid record oil prices it would cut flight attendants, pilots and other employees from its work force. The cuts through voluntary exits, leaves and furloughs were aimed at trimming about $16 million from annual costs.
AirTran said in August it was furloughing about 170 of its pilots as it shrank its flight schedule in the last four months of the year.
This year, AirTran plans to cut flight capacity about 3 to 7 percent. But as the airline prepares for the summer season, it is making its second round of pilot recalls.
The airline called about 35 pilots back to work in December as it prepared to fly its planes for longer hours in 2009. The latest round of recalled pilots will return to work Feb. 1. All of AirTran’s pilots are based in Atlanta.
Mike Best, president of the National Pilots Association at AirTran, said “we’re very hopeful” that the remaining pilots on furlough will be recalled this year.
AirTran is also calling back to work flight attendants who took leave and the airline has hired about 120 new flight attendants because of attrition.
AirTran has about 8,400 employees, including 1,600 pilots and 2,200 flight attendants.
The flight attendants who return from leave will be back at work effective March 1.
“In the event that we don’t have enough come back from leave, we will have to go out and hire more flight attendants,” said AirTran spokesman Tad Hutcheson. “The important thing is to make sure we have the crew resources to manage the airline effectively.”
The airline is also hiring about a dozen mechanics, Hutcheson said.
The recalls and hiring are “a little bright spot in the middle of all this economic downturn,” Hutcheson said.
