CHARLOTTE, N.C. – November 24, 2009 – The US Airline Pilots Association (USAPA), representing the pilots of US Airways, will picket today at the Massachusetts State House to bring to the attention of the public and lawmakers US Airways’ announced closure of its Boston crew base.
USAPA believes closing this base will have a detrimental impact on passengers, employees, New England taxpayers and the state’s economy due to the loss of hundreds of jobs and associated tax revenue. US Airways has announced plans to use crews and aircraft from other bases on flights departing Boston after the base closure. If aircraft do not arrive the night before, no reserve crew or aircraft will be available for departures the following day.
“It is critical that lawmakers and the flying public realize the impact that this base closure would have on both the Boston area and those travelers that rely on US Airways’ service out of Boston,” said Captain Mike Cleary, president of USAPA. “The closure of the Boston base would mean the reduction of over 400 jobs, including pilots and flight attendants, causing substantial harm to an economy already burdened in a downturn. Further, it will mean the substitution of smaller, less capable aircraft unequipped to handle Boston weather, thereby guaranteeing delays and schedule disruptions. Passengers’ airplanes will be stuck in outlying cities rather than on the ground in Boston. When disruptions occur – and they will – neither reserve crews nor aircraft will be available in Boston to ensure a reliable Shuttle schedule.”
USAPA also believes that this scenario will result in a deterioration of service that will negatively affect New England as an inbound tourism and convention destination. Likewise, US Airways has announced the elimination of a substantial number of non-stop Caribbean destinations currently available to New England travelers.
“In short, US Airways’ planned Boston base closure doesn’t serve the passengers, the taxpayers, the New England economy, the employees or the company,” President Cleary continued. “The US Airways pilots, along with the other employee groups, intend to do everything possible to stop this ill-conceived plan.”
USAPA urges Boston passengers who are likely concerned about the impact of this base closure to join Massachusetts congressional lawmakers in requesting that US Airways CEO Doug Parker reconsider his decision so that Boston pilots and flight attendants can keep flying Boston passengers and the service and reliability of the Shuttle will remain intact.
The picketing event will be held from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. today in front of the Massachusetts State House in Boston at the intersection of Beacon and Park Streets.
Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., the US Airline Pilots Association (USAPA) represents more than 5,000 US Airways pilots in seven domiciles across the United States. Visit the USAPA Web site at www.usairlinepilots.org.
# # #
BOSTON PASSENGERS: Contact your U.S. Senators and Representatives from the New England Delegation here.
Tags: base closings