PAL PLANS TO HIRE FOREIGN PILOTS
PAL plans to hire foreign pilots | ABS-CBN News | Latest Philippine Headlines, Breaking News, Video, Analysis, Features
MANILA, Philippines – Philippine Airlines (PAL) plans to hire foreign pilots to meet a shortage in the flag carrier caused by the sudden exodus of some of its pilots.
PAL President Jaime Bautista said Saturday they are looking at various solutions following the move of 26 pilots to suddenly leave the company to join foreign airlines.
“Isa yan sa mga option. Merong lumalapit sa amin,” he said. “May mga Germans na gustong magkaroon pa ng pagkakataon na lumipad sa Pilipinas.”
He added that the flag carrier will enlist foreign pilots’ services only if they accept PAL’s wage levels, which are lower compared to other airline companies.
He said PAL is currently training local pilots who will replace those who suddenly resigned without giving the required 180-day notice.
A total of 38 flights were cancelled between July 29 to August 3 after the 26 out of PAL's 473 pilots left without notice.
Bautista said PAL’s operations have returned to normal, but these could be hampered again when the peak season for international travel enters in December.
However, a leader of the Airline Pilots' Association of the Philippines (ALPAP) as well as PAL's ground crew are opposing PAL’s plan to hire foreigners.
Capt. Amado Soliman, an associate member of ALPAP, said the plan is unrealistic. “Hindi maaari yan. I don't think a foreign pilot will be in his right mind to accept the conditions of PAL,” he said.
The PAL Employees Association (PALEA) also criticized the plan.
“Suntok sa buwan ang pinaplano ng PAL,” said PALEA President Gerardo Rivera.
PAL management, meanwhile, said it is ready to act if PALEA members and cabin crew belonging to the Flight Attendants and Stewards Association of the Philippines (FASAP) decide to launch a strike.
PALEA has lashed out at the airline’s decision to outsource the operations of some of its departments such as catering, call center service, as well as cargo and passenger handling.
Around 2,800 affected employees are poised to join the strike.
The FASAP, on the other hand, has rejected an P80-million financial package offered by PAL management and is calling on the airline to raise the mandatory retirement age for flight attendants from the current level of 40. --
with a report from Israel Malasa, ABS-CBN News
QUESTION:
Why does PAL prefer to hire foreigners intead of the locals? Aren't the pilots in the Gen Av qualified to do the job?