Given that reduced competition often negatively impacts prices of cheap airplane tickets and cheap vacation packages, most travelers will greet the news positively that pilots at American Airlines have overwhelming approved a labor deal with the bankrupt airline.
73 percent of Americans 8,000 active pilots voted to ratify this deal. The agreement includes concessions on work rules and benefits but is better that an earlier deal the pilots voted down in August.
The Union president was criticized by some during the election process for appearing to prefer the airline go out of business vs. agreeing to proposed airline concessions. In spite of the support for the final deal, the union remains very critical of American management.
The Allied Pilots Association announced that it views a merger with US Airways as the best path to a stronger, more competitive American Airlines.
American Airlines filed for bankruptcy a little over a year ago. With the positive vote behind it, the airline intends to move forward with its plans to come out of bankruptcy. The company was given a March deadline to have a reorganization plan approved by a bankruptcy judge.
American Airlines observed that ratification of the pilots agreement gives it the certainty needed for it to successfully restructure. American says that it is looking into strategic alternatives, including a possible merger with US Airways whom it has shared confidential financial information.
Americans pilots union and Transport Workers union, which represents ground workers and its flight attendants, have announced their support of a deal with US Airways.
www.cheapfares.com