Check out what is clicking on FoxBusiness.com.
According to an internal memo from FOX Business, American Airlines is offering flight attendants a one-time vacation pay reward as travel increases across the country.
Flight attendants who work “during peak vacation hours” receive a 150% bonus, according to a memo from Brady Byrnes, vice president of flight service. These periods are from November 23rd to November 29th and from December 22nd to January 2nd.
However, if a flight attendant is not absent between November 15 and January 2, the Texas airline is offering a 300% premium for hours worked during peak travel times.
| ticker | safety | Last | Change | Change % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EEL | AMERICAN AIRLINES GROUP, INC. | 02/22 | +0.20 | + 0.90% |
The funds are viewed as a way “to recognize team members who have helped and will continue to help us run a reliable operation,” said Byrnes.
However, Byrnes also admitted how tough the current environment is for flight attendants.
Pilots speak as they look at the tail of an American Airlines plane at Dallas-Ft Worth International Airport February 14, 2013. (REUTERS / Mike Stone / Reuters Photos)
“The past few months, and last week in particular, have been challenging,” said Brynes. “With Mother Nature devastating its operations, the myriad policy changes to keep up with, and an increase in incidents of customer misconduct, you’ve got a lot to do.”
The announcement comes shortly after the airline faced significant operational challenges over Halloween weekend that resulted in thousands of canceled flights across the country.
GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HERE
The Americans’ problems began on October 28 and 29, when high winds temporarily paralyzed their busiest hub, Dallas / Fort Worth International Airport, preventing the airline from using all runways there. The number of canceled and delayed flights increased in number and geographic extent over the course of the weekend.
HUNDREDS OF AMERICAN AIRLINES FLIGHTS CANCELED, DELAYED MONDAY
About two-thirds of the cancellations on October 31 were due to a lack of flight attendants in the right places, with almost all of the remaining cancellations being due to a lack of pilots, according to internal figures from The Associated Press.
And the increase in staff, especially during the critical Christmas season, was not child’s play either.
AMERICAN AIRLINES PLAN TO ADD MORE THAN 1,300 NEW PILOTS BY THE END 2022
American Chief Operating Officer David Seymour stated in a letter to employees that “the reality is that the hiring environment has changed as a result of the pandemic.”
However, Seymour said that “nearly 1,800 flight attendants returned from vacation in November and this will continue with 800 more in December.”
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ABOUT FOX BUSINESS
In addition, the airline said it will have over 600 new flight attendants on the team by the end of December.
Overall, American expects about 4,000 new team members in the fourth quarter.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
[ad_1]
