Number1 Aeropers post
My understanding is that Swiss Pilots (ex-Crossair) have accepted that Long Haul (A330, MD11, A340) pilots should be remunerated higher than their Short Haul counterparts. Does Medium Haul exist and does Short Haul include the so-called "Regional Fleet"?
When this Aeropers(ex-Swissair) post above and their position is analysed, it is basically providing an argument and justification for salary based on aircraft size and range. This was an argument even rejected in Swissair in the last years with a common salary structure based on start date ignoring different types(size and range)flown(even considering mixed fleet flying). Maybe now to its detriment? This increasing pay for larger aircraft is not being applied within the Airbus and MD11 fleet today where a common salary structure exists. This argument when extended to its logical conclusion would mean increasing and different salary for ERJ145(49 seat), Saab2000(50), EJ170(70), RJ85/100(82/97), EJ195(108), MD83(156-163), A319(110-126), A320(134-150), A320Swiss Sun(168), A321(170-186), A330(196-230), A340(228), MD11(241).
The question is "very simply" according to career model, type and seat freeze, fluctuation, retraining cost, new aircraft introduction/ replacement of old aircraft, common type rating, mixed fleet flying, aircraft size and range, market, routes and yield difference, technology, speed, cost per available seat-km, cost per available tonne-km etc etc etc, how do you wish to categorize aircraft and salary? SWISS management and Aeropers argue that no difference exists between an A319(110 seat) and a MD11(241 seat), and Swiss Pilots argue there is no difference between a RJ100(97 seat) and a A319(110 seat).
In the end one can reinvent the wheel many times, Benchmark until the cows come home, seek out World's Best Practice, apply Industry Standard as if a single one exists, and arrive at something which provides a competitve advantage and flexibility for the company and is somehow acceptable to the pilot unions. You can also throw in for good measure some concept of Safety verses Cost Structure. Was the previous Crossair cost structure too cheap, whereas the new SWISS cost structure in the current market is undoubtedly way too high? Current management refuse to provide details (even taking into account commercially sensitive info) on relative yields(as opposed to some very generic SLF info) and of a breakdown and allocation of costs to enable any sensible comment on the latest 20 aircraft reduction.
The above Aeropers reference also conveniently ignores the fact that ex-Swissair pilots were newly employed by Crossair 31 March 2002 without undergoing any selection, qualification, screening or training by Crossair(now called SWISS). This situation allowed around 880 pilots to join a company and fly under an AOC without ANY standards being applied. Yes, the FOCA/BAZL approved this. These would be unemployed Aeropers pilots fought for and won the support of the new Board of Directors and ex-Crossair management for a system they previously found abhorrent. "Don't do as I do, but do what I say!"
The whole process is not helped by a weak, pliant and incompetent management, an overall Business Plan(if one now actually exists?) which is based on Charity, Social Welfare, Politics and Emotion, and not on any economic argument or concept of financial responsibility. How prophetic for the original plan to be called Phoenix with SWISS flying out of the ashes of the bankrupted Swissair only to nose dive back to the nest to inflame itself at an unprecedented rate. Finally there exists two seemingly irreconcilable pilots groups; one whose EGO(highlighted above) is simply hypocritical and moreover dangerous, the other whose raised expectations and demands in relation to salary and conditions ignore economic reality. Aeropers may have won the power game, SWISS Pilots may win the legal argument too late, and the over blown SWISS will continue to downsize all areas in the future as its cash reserves plummit. Switzerland and SWISS have provided a new airline industry standard: How to make a huge loss, start with a huge amount of money!
Tschüssi