8.18.17 – Barcelona Attack, Summer 2018 Flying Announcement, Transtlantic Briefings

Friday, August 18, 2017

• Barcelona Attack
• Summer 2018 Flying Announcement
• Transatlantic Briefings

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Barcelona Attack

The Philadelphia crew in Barcelona has been contacted and accounted for. Please be reminded when you are out and about internationally or domestically use situational awareness, let someone know on your crew that you are going out and try to go as a group.  

If something happens in your layover city, please return to the hotel as soon as possible.

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Summer 2018 Flying Announcement

I am sure by now everyone has read or heard about the Company’s announcement of their Summer 2018 schedule changes.   If you have not, below is an excerpt from the communication that can be found on Jetnet:

“PHL: As the largest trans-Atlantic hub in our network, PHL is well-suited for expansion. We will leverage its connecting power in the U.S. to feed and develop new markets across the Atlantic. For 2018, that means new summer seasonal service to Budapest, Hungary (BUD) and Prague, Czech Republic (PRG). We will also move JFK-Zurich, Switzerland (ZRH) to PHL-ZRH so that it can take advantage of the many connecting opportunities available at PHL. All three of these new routes will operate on the Boeing 767-300.”

While this is very good long term news for Philadelphia and American Airlines, it is very disappointing that these new destinations will be flown using Legacy American 757’s and 767’s for the 2018 season. Although we are qualified on this equipment, we cannot fly the other legacies metal until FOI.

We were advised a few months ago that the Glasgow, Shannon, and Lisbon flights from Philadelphia would be transferring to Legacy American metal in addition to the two new destinations announced yesterday, Prague, Czech Republic and Budapest, Hungary. The company has advised in their announcement that Zurich, Switzerland will return next summer to Philadelphia and will also be flown with Legacy American metal. In addition to Amsterdam, which has been operated by Legacy American metal for the last two years, this will bring the total number of Legacy American operated IPD flights from Philadelphia to seven for the 2018 season.

Your Philadelphia base leadership and APFA National have been working with the Company to find interim solutions that would address this situation. As we continue to work through the details, we hope to have information to share with you very soon.
 

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Transatlantic Briefings

An email was recently sent to us by Philadelphia Flight Service advising that as of September 5th, we will no longer have formal briefings in the crew room for our international departures. We know how disappointing this is that American Airlines has moved away from this long-standing procedure. One of the main concerns from Flight Attendants is the hotel sheet being faxed to the hotel. The Philadelphia Base Manager has assured me that they will continue to fax the crew list over to the hotels nightly. They do not need a filled out hotel sheet from the crew to fax to the hotel.  

If you get to the hotel and the crew list was not faxed over, please let Flight Service know upon your return.

In Unity and Solidarity,
Kim and Brian

APFA Base President Kim Kaswinkel
[email protected]

APFA Base Vice President Brian Morgan
[email protected]