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June 24, 2008

United to “Furlough” Nearly 1,000 Pilots — Will They EVER Return to Work?

Filed under: Pilots, United — Rick Seaney @ 9:42 am

Like many airlines, United announced it will cut capacity — cutting back on the number of flights and grounding planes — which means, they don’t need all their pilots, so they’re furloughing 950 of them (that’s 15%).

That’s furloughed, not fired. Or is it? In theory, when times get better, they could return — just like those pilots furloughed after 9/11 — most of whom returned by last summer. Let’s see, that was 6 years later.

Ever been out of work for 6 years? Or had to find a brand new profession? Clearly, most of the affected United pilots (whose furloughs will begin in July and continue through next year) won’t be able to find jobs at other airlines — they’re in the same boat as United.

And how many will have hit retirement age — 65 — by the time United calls them back to work?

A very sad business.

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