American intends to furlough up to 175 pilots over the next six months, although it is negotiating with the pilots’ union to reduce the total through various voluntary options.
The carrier is talking with the Allied Pilots Association to “develop possible furlough mitigation.” The carrier is contractually obliged to offer a “stand-in-stead” program where pilots can volunteer to take the place of a furloughed colleague, an airline spokeswoman said. APA said it is “hoping to compel” American to offer voluntary leaves of absence and early retirement incentives to minimize the furlough numbers.