After the lifting of restrictions since the pandemic, airlines have almost fully resumed operations. A summary of the third quarter shows the ability of the aviation sector to recover. And for some workers, this is an opportunity to do things better while continuing to innovate the quality of service.
United Airlines and Pilots strike
The airline has been facing a strike since June with its employees. The company’s pilots are demanding a pay increase.
United Airlines had attempted to reach an agreement in June 2022 to increase pilot pay by over 14.5% on an 18-month basis. The company had promised pilots a pay rise as soon as the company started to make a profit. United Airlines reported the Third Quarter of 2022, a net profit of $942 million.
The agreement comes as airlines face rising fuel and labour costs. According to FAPA, a pilot advisory firm. U.S. carriers have already hired more than 5,500 pilots this year, surpassing all of 2021, which was previously the busiest year for pilot hiring.
“This agreement sets a high bar for all airline pilots and moves the industry forward,” said Captain Michael Hamilton, president of the Air Line Pilots Association’s United pilots’ group, representing about 14,000 United pilots.
Now that the aviation industry is back to pre-pandemic levels, United Airlines is back to business. The United pilots have expected better compensation.
American Airlines, one of its competitors, had proposed a 17% pay increase. In the meantime, Air Canada and United Airlines announced a business agreement. Customers of both airlines would be able to connect to 38 codeshare destinations in the U.S. and eight of the most popular destinations in Canada due to the agreement. You can now search for flights to and between North American countries on United’s and Air Canada’s websites.
United is planning a 5% wage increase starting in December, initially scheduled for May 2023. Last week, United’s pilots voted to reject the tentative agreement of a 14.5% increase. The winter season is already there, and both parties must quickly find a deal.
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The pilots aren’t on strike. And that 14% pay increase has a 5% increase already negotiated so it was really a 9% when they haven’t had a raise in 3 years.