Axe falls on Air Atlanta 744 pilots in MAD
 

Late Thursday afternoon, Air Atlanta (or should I say Airborne and Direct Personnel acting on their behalf) terminated the contracts of 17 pilots at 14 days notice on the MAD-based 744. The news was delivered by email as seemingly nobody had the guts to deliver the message face-to-face. The reason given was contract difficulties (extending the Cubana contract) because of the inability of AA to find a serviceable 744 to continue the contract (the existing a/c due to fly off for frighter conversion). Apparently an additional aircraft became a non-starter due to the number of ADs that need to be incorporated before it could be considered serviceable!

"....seemingly nobody had the guts to deliver the message face-to-face."

Let me correct you, they have not and never have had any guts.

That AAI drop their crews at short notice(the crews are only contractors after all}and that AAI and their agents,Direct,Airborne etc.,are unable to communicate (they are only Icelandic after all)is nothing new.Surely the real surprise in all is that a few ADs should stop AAI from considering the alternative 74-4 serviceable!Very posh.
We have a group of 75/767 drivers joining us at Excel shortly. Four of their eight planes are planned to go to the knackers yard at the end of next season(actually all eight should have gone at least two seasons ago judging by their serviceability performance),but in this case the pilots are permanent employees.Might be interesting.
AAI is not,and never has been, for widows and orphans.The whole group is retrenching as yet again an airline makes a very small fortune out of a very large one!

I know nothing of AAI other than what I read in Flight and PPRUNE but it seems rather funny that thay have ordered 777 freighters when they can't provide a 747 when they need to.

The money has to be coming from somewhere and not just on the backs of the flightcrew (via low wages).

Those AAI 747s, currently based in Madrid,will be based very soon in Gatwick to operate flights (London-ABudabi) in behalf of Etihad. This contract will last 3 months.
This news has been known (at least in LGW) for weeks; so i don´t think it is an unexpected surprise.

But yes, I mainly agree with your comments about AAI

Here we go again!!! The 747's in Madrid may well be going to Gatwick but the 2 remaining 747-400's will be staying to operate the Iberia contract.

Just to correct few things.
The two 747-400 will stay in Madrid.
There is one 747-300 going to Ethihad flying LGW-AUH.
747-400 flying for Cubana was scheduled for Cargo Conversion at end of 2005, before it was leased short term to Cubana.
Cubana deciding not to extend contract does not mean that AAI cannot supply 747-400 and has nothing to do with AAI ordering 777 freighters with delivery in 2009...

As this in line with the pilots T&Cs? If it was then whats the issue?

aerogipsy
I think you will find the contract with Iberia for the B747-400, ends early 2006.