British Airways pilots accept 2.6 percent pay cut to help carrier cut costs

September 30th, 2009 Hudson 'Miracle' pilots reuniting for NY flightNEW YORK — The "Miracle on the Hudson" pilots are reuniting in the cockpit for the first time for a flight out of New York. Capt. Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger and 1st Officer Jeffrey Skiles will pilot a flight on Thursday from LaGuardia Airport to Charlotte, N.C.

September 9th, 2009 Mumbai, Sept 9 (IBNS) Jet Airways flights were cancelled for a second day in a row with the airline management and its pilots continuing to lock horns over the sacking of employees for forming a union. Jet Airways responded to the mass sick leave taken by 300 of its 760 pilots on Tuesday — which disrupted 186 flights and affected 13,000 passengers — by sacking 5 more pilots on Wednesday morning, bringing the number of those fired to 10.

September 9th, 2009 Mumbai, Sept 9 (IBNS) Jet Airways flights were cancelled for a second day in a row with the airline management and its pilots continuing to lock horns over the sacking of employees for forming a union. Jet Airways responded to the mass sick leave taken by 300 of its 760 pilots on Tuesday — which disrupted 186 flights and affected 13,000 passengers — by sacking 5 more pilots on Wednesday morning, bringing the number of those fired to 10.

July 31st, 2009 Republic Airways parent closes purchase of MidwestMILWAUKEE — Republic Airways Holdings says it has completed its acquisition of privately held Midwest Airlines for $31 million in cash and debt. Indianapolis-based Republic Airways Holdings is a regional carrier that currently flies under contract for other airlines.

July 29th, 2009 British Airways cuts short haul free mealsLONDON — British Airways PLC is scrapping all free meals — except breakfast — on its short-haul flights as the airline continues to trim costs amid a recession-driven downturn in demand for travel. BA said Wednesday that the decision to cut meals on flights lasting less than two hours would save the airline around 22 million pounds ($36 million) each year.

July 17th, 2009 British Airways to raise almost $1 billionLONDON — Hard-pressed British Airways said Friday it plans to raise 600 million pounds ($980 million) to see it through the recession and financial losses, which it estimated at 100 million pounds for the three months through June. The airline, which has been seeking cost-cutting deals with staff, announced it intended to raise 300 million pounds through a convertible debt issue and that it had secured the return of 330 million pounds worth of guarantees from pension fund trustees.

July 17th, 2009 British Airways to raise 600M pounds amid lossesLONDON — Hard-pressed British Airways said Friday it plans to raise 600 million pounds ($980 million) to see it through the recession and financial losses, which it estimated at 100 million pounds for the three months through June. The airline, which has been seeking cost-cutting deals with staff, announced it intended to raise 300 million pounds through a convertible debt issue and that it had secured the return of 330 million pounds worth of guarantees from pension fund trustees.

June 18th, 2009 Pilots union backs pay cuts at British AirwaysLONDON — A pilots union on Friday called on members at British Airways to accept pay cuts and productivity concessions to save the troubled carrier 26 million pounds ($42.2 million) a year. In return, pilots would be offered shares of BA stock if the company achieves certain growth targets.

May 7th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Leading private carrier Jet Airways will launch a new economy service, 'Jet Airways Konnect', from Friday on select sectors, the airline announced Thursday. The company said in a regulatory statement that Jet Konnect would offer almost all services of the parent carrier and would help the airline cater to the needs of the consumers opting for low-fare services.

May 1st, 2009 NEW DELHI - India's leading private carrier Jet Airways handed over pink slips to 110 employees on the eve of May Day, the company said Friday. 'Jet Airways undertakes additional measures to streamline costs to improve the financial health of the company under the challenging economic environment.

April 24th, 2009 NEW DELHI - India's leading private carrier Jet Airways Friday said it has cut salaries of at least 370 senior employees as the airline was bleeding on account of falling traffic and rising operational costs. 'We have temporarily imposed a reduction in salaries for the management cadre.

April 23rd, 2009 NEW DELHI - Salary cuts and job uncertainty are driving pilots in Indian carriers to greener pastures abroad, with as many as 25 pilots believed to be heading for the Gulf. Pilots from Jet Airways and Kingfisher Airlines are expected to join leading Gulf carrier Qatar Airways.

March 29th, 2009 KOLKATA - British Airways suspended its direct service to London from here Sunday, with the last flight taking off at around 5 a.m., even as national carrier Air India resumed operations on the route the same day. British Airways, which operated three direct fights a week from the city to Heathrow Airport in London, decided to suspend operations as it found the route unprofitable.

March 24th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Leading private carrier Jet Airways Monday announced special fares starting from Rs.1,722 on 30-day advance purchases, which according to the company is as low as the railway AC two-tier tickets. 'Air travellers who purchase tickets in the domestic sector 30 days in advance would now enjoy low fares, starting from Rs.2,071 for Jet Airways, and Rs.1,722 for JetLite,' the company said in a statement.

February 8th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Jet Airways, the country's largest private carrier, Monday said it would not renew the contracts of some foreign pilots and would freeze recruitment to vacant positions. 'The airline would phase out excess expatriate pilots over the next few months and would not replace them,' a Jet spokesperson told IANS.