The Guvnor
26th Aug 2001, 14:45
From today's Sunday Times:
Aer Arann Express axes pilots in
switch to larger aircraft
THE regional airline, Aer Arann Express, has made 12 of its 60 pilots redundant as part of a move to use only one model of aircraft, writes Tom McEnaney. The company, which has flown two aircraft types, ATR 42s and Short 360s, will now fly only ATRs.
The company says the pilots currently flying the two Short 360s, which can carry 36 passengers, are not qualified to fly the newer planes, which can carry 50 passengers.
The lay-offs have angered the pilots' representative body, the Irish Airline Pilots Association (IALPA). A spokesman for IALPA said that given the number of redundancies, Aer Arann Express was obliged to negotiate with the pilots' representative 30 days ahead of the termination of their employment, which is due to take place on September 1.
A spokesman for the company said it did not recognise third parties and only dealt directly with its employees.
"As a direct result of Aer Arann Express increasing the frequency of its flights to Sligo and Knock, the company has decided to move to ATR 42s," said the spokesman. "Having two types of aircraft is not financially efficient. One aircraft is obviously more efficient in terms of maintenance, parts and crew."
The move to one aircraft type follows the successful adoption of the same policy by Ryanair.
Aer Arann Express, which was founded by Eugene O'Kelly and the company's managing director, Padraig O'Ceidigh, had a turnover last year of £20m.
Current forecasters say it will fly 300,000 passengers this year. It currently flies scheduled services from Dublin to Cork, Donegal, Galway, Kerry, Knock, Sligo and Sheffield.
Aer Arann Express axes pilots in
switch to larger aircraft
THE regional airline, Aer Arann Express, has made 12 of its 60 pilots redundant as part of a move to use only one model of aircraft, writes Tom McEnaney. The company, which has flown two aircraft types, ATR 42s and Short 360s, will now fly only ATRs.
The company says the pilots currently flying the two Short 360s, which can carry 36 passengers, are not qualified to fly the newer planes, which can carry 50 passengers.
The lay-offs have angered the pilots' representative body, the Irish Airline Pilots Association (IALPA). A spokesman for IALPA said that given the number of redundancies, Aer Arann Express was obliged to negotiate with the pilots' representative 30 days ahead of the termination of their employment, which is due to take place on September 1.
A spokesman for the company said it did not recognise third parties and only dealt directly with its employees.
"As a direct result of Aer Arann Express increasing the frequency of its flights to Sligo and Knock, the company has decided to move to ATR 42s," said the spokesman. "Having two types of aircraft is not financially efficient. One aircraft is obviously more efficient in terms of maintenance, parts and crew."
The move to one aircraft type follows the successful adoption of the same policy by Ryanair.
Aer Arann Express, which was founded by Eugene O'Kelly and the company's managing director, Padraig O'Ceidigh, had a turnover last year of £20m.
Current forecasters say it will fly 300,000 passengers this year. It currently flies scheduled services from Dublin to Cork, Donegal, Galway, Kerry, Knock, Sligo and Sheffield.