06.21.06

This is Denise Pointer with an InfoRep Hotline for Wednesday, June 21, 2006.

If you haven’t sent your letter via CAPWIZ on the APFA web site to your lawmakers regarding Pension Reform, now would be an excellent time. Many of you have seen the news regarding Delta’s decision to terminate its pilots’ pension plan effective September 2, 2006. The PBGC will take over the plan once Delta terminates it and will then pay the Delta pilots a greatly reduced benefit up to a designated limit. Delta’s pilots won’t be entitled to the lump-sum payment under their existing pension plan. As is the case with all companies in bankruptcy, this will require approval by the bankruptcy judge.

The repeal of the Wright Amendment moves closer to a reality this week when meetings begin in Fort Worth, Texas where the City Council will vote on the compromise reached between Dallas and Fort Worth last week. The compromise was spearheaded by the two cities’ Mayors.

To summarize the agreement:

• The Wright Amendment restrictions at Love field will terminate in eight years
• Immediate through-ticketing would be allowed from Love Field
• Gates at Love Field would be limited to 20: 16 to Southwest, two to American and two to Continental

 

In order for this to become a reality, both Dallas and Fort Worth’s City Councils, along with the DFW Airport Board, must ratify this agreement by July 15th. Then, the proposed agreement would have to be passed by Congress by the end of 2006 or the deal would be null and void.

American Airlines notified APFA that it plans to simplify its fleet by returning 19 former TWA 757-200s to their lessors. These aircraft will be returned between January 2007 and March 2008. Schedule plans for 2007 are still being worked out.

APFA is concerned over the disconnect between the granting of PVDs and staffing and. We are discussing the contractual language versus and operational procedures with the Company and hope to find a way for more PVD’s to be granted when manning permits. We will keep you updated.

Last week, the Company offered additional reinstatements to MIA for those F/As displaced to STL in ’03, based on the agreement reached last year. Reinstatement was offered to the six most senior Flight Attendants accepting reinstatement effective July 2. Another reinstatement will be offered the first week of July for an effective date of August 1.

Effective August 1, we will be moving to the Doubletree Hotel at EWR. Transportation will be provided by the hotel. Crews will be now be picked up at Terminal A, curbside. This should be a very popular move! We will also be moving July 1 to the Marriott Marquis in downtown Atlanta. A new DFW long hotel property will be announced very shortly. As a reminder, upcoming reviews and well as hotel surveys and electronic debriefs can be found by going to www.www.apfa.org, clicking on department, then hotel.

Don’t forget to keep your email and other contact information current by notifying [email protected] of any changes.

That’s it for this week. Thanks for all you do for the InfoRep program.