Tango-Bravo From United States of America, joined Jun 2001, 3725 posts, RR: 31 Posted (11 years 8 months 6 days 16 hours ago) and read 755 times:
Alaska Airlines has opted not to copycat the other full-service U.S. majors making arbitrary 20% reductions in capacity and workforce. Instead, AS will keep its options open by taking a wait-and-see approach to determine whether cuts will be needed and, if so, to what extent. AS President Bill Ayer has stated that layoffs will occur "only as a last resort." Also, a number of alternatives to possible furloughs are being weighed by management and union representatives.
This common-sense approach positions Alaska to gain customers forfeited by other airlines in their knee-jerk haste to slash capacity and jobs in response to what will, IMO, be a very short-lived (weeks rather than months), albeit precipitous, decline in demand for air travel following an aviation disaster of unparalled magnitude,
Bobcat From United States of America, joined Jun 2007, 0 posts, RR: 0 Reply 1, posted (11 years 8 months 6 days 16 hours ago) and read 685 times:
I'm not in the airline industry but I'd like
to suggest an alternative. Instead off
laying off 20% of the work force, why
not temporarily scale down wages 20%?
Nobody goes into the unemployment line
and once things get back to normal,
bring the wages back up.
Teej13 From Canada, joined Feb 2001, 486 posts, RR: 0 Reply 3, posted (11 years 8 months 6 days 16 hours ago) and read 672 times:
A 20% pay cut by everyone, although the idea that seems to make the most sense, isn't feasible, as a job itself requires all sorts of costs, regardless of the pay.. I'm not saying I like it, that's the way labour laws are. A shame, really. I'd take a pay cut to keep my job if it was in jeopardy!
SouthRebels From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 4, posted (11 years 8 months 6 days 15 hours ago) and read 653 times:
Not to mention, as mean as it may sound, with cutting 20% of the jobs, you only make 20% of the people unhappy. With everyone taking 20% off their pay you make 100% of the people unhappy.
Exusair From United States of America, joined Sep 2000, 684 posts, RR: 0 Reply 5, posted (11 years 8 months 6 days 1 hour ago) and read 616 times:
Alaska has the good fortune of having limited exposure to the east coast.
Nobody in NYC feels like taking a vacation right now, nor will they likely want to in the immediate future.
AS also has the good fortune of not having any ops out of DCA.
US, DL, AA, UA and CO all had hourly service to their major hubs as well as hourly Shuttle flights to NYC and or BOS. The loss of this high yield market is devastating to many of the carriers, more do to US than any other.
A 20% reduction in service in some markets are appropriate. CO and DL both offered hourly flights between EWR and ATL. All of these planes are flying around nearly empty.
A reduction in international routes as the slow winter period dawns on Europe and the US. By the way, would you want to fly to the Middle East right about now?
Right now the industry is trying to stay afloat. Anything that wasn't making money or breaking even has gotta' go.
Why have 100% of your Spetember 10th workforce on the payroll, if there is nothing for 15 - 20% of them to do with all of these planes parked?
Thanksgiving and Christmas are going to be a make or break for many of the carriers.
As Bob Crandall once said, "This is a dirty, rotten business." But by God, it gets in your blood and you can't get it out.
Parents: Advice to you for your children, Never ever ever bring them into a cockpit of an airplane. That's all they'll ever want to do - sit in that little room with all of those switches and lights. You'll ruin that kid for life!
Spinkid From United States of America, joined Jul 2001, 1001 posts, RR: 0 Reply 6, posted (11 years 8 months 6 days 1 hour ago) and read 607 times:
If you cut payroll for everyone by 20% I think you'll be cutting some people on the lower end of the pay scale down to a level where they can't afford to live. It's one thing to want to sacrifice for your company, but another if you can't support your family. For many, it is simply a better option to be laid off, collect unemployment and hopefully find another job that pays just as well (even if it may not be as rewarding personally).
EIPremier From United States of America, joined Sep 2000, 1533 posts, RR: 2 Reply 11, posted (11 years 8 months 5 days 14 hours ago) and read 508 times:
Alaska DID cut their schedules by 15%.
They have not announced layoffs thus far.
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