American to cut 13,000 workersBREAKING NEWS: American Airlines just announced it will cut 13,000 workers across various workgroups.Here is the full e-mail from the carrier.This morning Tom Horton, Bev Goulet and Jeff Brundage met with union leaders to outline American’s business plan and the necessary steps we must take to secure our future success. A difficult outcome of the restructuring process is our need to reduce our workforce to better align with a more efficient operation. The business plan and our proposals, which are necessary for long-term success, outline a reduction of approximately 13,000 employees across our company. The company will share proposals with the unions this afternoon, however below is an approximate breakdown of expected job reductions by workgroup.Expected Employee ReductionsAgents, Reps, Planners – TBD, the ARP restructuring plan is still under development as the company collects and analyzes employee feedbackFleet Service & Other TWU – Approximately 4,200Flight Attendants – Approximately 2,300Management/Support Staff – Approximately 1,400Mechanics and Related – Approximately 4,600Pilots – Approximately 400Total – Approximately 13,000-Andrea AhlesPosted at 01:19 PM in Allied Pilots Association, American Airlines, American Eagle, AMR, Association of Professional Flight Attendants, Bankruptcy, Transport Workers Union | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)Read more here: http://startelegram..../#storylink=cpyAA Aircraft Counthttp://aviationblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2012/01/our-latest-count-on-american-a.html

Edited February 2, 201214 yr by BIGSKY

Surprised it took so long.

Shame....but this is the market we are in at the moment. Let's hope for a healthy American Airlines as they get through this....Cheers

Surprised it took so long.

Just what I was thinking too.Unfortunate that the world economy is so unstable. :(

I think if I were a regular flier with AA I'd be a little concerned that they're axing 4600 mechanics (and related).. :LMAO:Or are they shrinking the fleet also?

I think if I were a regular flier with AA I'd be a little concerned that they're axing 4600 mechanics (and related).. :LMAO:Or are they shrinking the fleet also?

Out sourcing and redundancies. Plus they will park some of their fleet.

Unless people are prepared to go through some pain (ie reduce the salaries) then it is apparent foreign airlines will have the market share.Australia, US/Canada and European Airlines all offer mediocre service whilst Asia (through a highly competitive labor market ie no welfare) offers great service and much lower costs. Cathay Pacific and Singapore Airlines don't pay their Attendants the high rates of pay the western carriers do.If it was me (if I was a Dad for example) I would recommend my daughter be a flight attendant from 18-25 years old, then settle down. She will have seen the world then can start a family with her man whilst taking a better stable job in a city (like Singapore for example).When you are young travel is great but not when you are older (only a few times a year). Maybe that point is totally debatable!Anyhow to keep young and fresh staff in an airline is always going to result in a successful formula.While we like to have pilots that are experienced, I think airlines should be encouraged to give new pilots a start and 'partially retire' the older ones.Pilots at 50 should work part time, only to give the younger generation a chance at learning the trade and bringing in fresh talent.In Qantas the Senior pilots earn half a million dollars a year on the A380. This is ridiculous.The thing is it is all union dominated and it is creating a huge disaster in the West so businesses cannot afford to compete with the more capitalist markets.With huge levels of debt in the West we are allowing inflation to control us and we don't resist the demand for wage rises.Apart from France, Canada, UK and New Zealand, all Governments are intent on spending more money they don't have an raising taxes.Even Japan has a Government that thinks the only solution is to raise taxes.Australia and the USA are shortly going to remove the Governments that are incompetent in economics (only able to be gratuitous to unions and special interests) and choose people who will manage the economies in more responsible ways. Deregulation will have to occur more faster in the West than ever before since Australia has for the last 4 years been so mad on regulation and taxes that it is killing everything here!!!http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/aviation/law-changes-threaten-qantas-may-force-sale-of-jetstar-joyce/story-e6frg95x-1226263480773Daniel

Edited February 6, 201214 yr by IAF747

"...Asia (through a highly competitive labor market ie no welfare) offers great service and much lower costs. Cathay Pacific and Singapore Airlines don't pay their Attendants the high rates of pay the western carriers do."Well I suppose if ways could be found somehow to pay no wages at all we'd be even more 'competitive'; no doubt there are American think-tanks working on that even as we speak.The problem with the 'go through some pain' shtick is that people can see perfectly well that this 'pain' is never, in practice, equally shared across the pay-scales, and that those recommending that approach most enthusiastically are usually the ones who'll be inflicting it, and who'll sacrifice least, or even profit from others' financial pain.I notice, as an aside, that you don't consider the possibility that your hypothetical daughter might want a career as a pilot."Anyhow to keep young and fresh staff in an airline is always going to result in a successful formula."How about experienced staff?

Edited February 6, 201214 yr by Raindance

Airlines and their staff must realise that the world doesn't owe them a living.

"...Asia (through a highly competitive labor market ie no welfare) offers great service and much lower costs. Cathay Pacific and Singapore Airlines don't pay their Attendants the high rates of pay the western carriers do."Well I suppose if ways could be found somehow to pay no wages at all we'd be even more 'competitive'; no doubt there are American think-tanks working on that even as we speak.The problem with the 'go through some pain' shtick is that people can see perfectly well that this 'pain' is never, in practice, equally shared across the pay-scales, and that those recommending that approach most enthusiastically are usually the ones who'll be inflicting it, and who'll sacrifice least, or even profit from others' financial pain.I notice, as an aside, that you don't consider the possibility that your hypothetical daughter might want a career as a pilot."Anyhow to keep young and fresh staff in an airline is always going to result in a successful formula."How about experienced staff?

If experienced staff were a successful formula then airlines such as American Airlines wouldn't be filing for bankruptcy now would they? My point exactly.This seems not to be too successful!!! : http://www.news.com.au/national/information-overload-pilot-sues-virgin-australia-over-injury/story-e6frfkvr-1226264199392Daniel

Edited February 6, 201214 yr by IAF747

I still have a hard time understanding why the so-called "legacy" airlines make the choices they do. The profitable airlines like Southwest and JetBlue have developed a model that works. In a world where so much of what managers get paid for is simply imitation of what someone else is doing well, why can't American and other adopt the more successful business model? "Gee, SWA and JBU are keeping fares low, and not charging for bags, while making efficient use of their aircraft. So, let's charge higher prices, gouge everyone on baggage and let our planes sit around the airport all day. How about that?"Yes, the legacy carriers are saddled with pension liabilities and union contracts, but is that all there is to the difference? How can some carriers be successful (and, in my experience, provide a more pleasant flight experience) while supposedly more experienced airlines fail?

I still have a hard time understanding why the so-called "legacy" airlines make the choices they do. The profitable airlines like Southwest and JetBlue have developed a model that works. In a world where so much of what managers get paid for is simply imitation of what someone else is doing well, why can't American and other adopt the more successful business model?"Gee, SWA and JBU are keeping fares low, and not charging for bags, while making efficient use of their aircraft. So, let's charge higher prices, gouge everyone on baggage and let our planes sit around the airport all day. How about that?"Yes, the legacy carriers are saddled with pension liabilities and union contracts, but is that all there is to the difference? How can some carriers be successful (and, in my experience, provide a more pleasant flight experience) while supposedly more experienced airlines fail?

It is the culture that is easily allowed to develop among all staff including the ones at the top. 'Job security' comes before anything else in this environment so instead of the customer receiving great service and a great product they are receiving mediocre service and product at best due to staff's focus being elsewhere.Daniel

Pilots at 50 should work part time, only to give the younger generation a chance at learning the trade and bringing in fresh talent.In Qantas the Senior pilots earn half a million dollars a year on the A380. This is ridiculous.

Working from bottom up;If I was one of the passengers on that A380 I would want the best pilot available, no matter the cost.You don't state your age, but imagine you have worked to get to a certain point of accomplishment and at a "magical numeric value" the world decides you no longer have stated value, but instead are now worth 1/2 what you were before. How are you going to pay for your hypothetical daughter's college education?Next time you go to see your Doctor or Dentist ask them how long they have been out of med school. If it's more than two years I hope you'll advise them that you won't be returning, as you want to give the "fresh out of school" medical professionals a chance. Best of luck when it comes time to fill that cavity! or need a bypass operation

Airlines and their staff must realise that the world doesn't owe them a living.

And passengers need to realize that they are flying nearly the speed of sound at the edge of the inner atmosphere and that rates should be more than the cost of a bus ticket.

You people also realize that they were operating fairly under the old way of airline operations, by not filling for bankruptcy or taking the governments money after 9/11. Their CEO was actually a very good guy but under their current operating contracts they couldn't make it.