Delta Air Lines pilots will continue their rolling series of pickets at key US Delta hubs. On Tuesday, Delta pilots plan to picket at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport over scheduling and fatigue issues. A picket on Thursday at Minneapolis−Saint Paul International Airport will follow Tuesday’s protest.
Seattle is the latest in a line of pickets by Delta’s pilots
According to the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), off-duty pilots will protest against Delta management’s scheduling practices that have caused pilots to fly long and often fatiguing trips. “Delta is trying to operate more flights with fewer pilots, leaving no wiggle room for weather delays and operational strains. We want management to come to the table to discuss our scheduling concerns,” says an ALPA statement.
The union represents approximately 13,000 Delta pilots. Delta Air Lines has seven pilot bases across the United States, and pilots have already picketed five of them – Seattle and Minneapolis−Saint Paul will complete the list this week. Delta isn’t the only airline dealing with antsy pilots. Southwest Airlines and Alaska Airlines pilots have recently generated plenty of aviation news with their concerns about fatigue and scheduling.
“Pilots are mission-oriented and want to deliver the best service in the industry, but we are also humans with limitations,” says Captain Jason Ambrosi from the ALPA. “Not every day is blue skies. Weather disruptions and other operational issues can cause flight delays and cancellations. Our customers deserve better.”
Ongoing pilot fatigue and scheduling concerns
Captain Ambrosi says Delta’s pilots have concerns about fatigue and poor quality rotations. Earlier this year, ALPA told Delta’s senior management that pilots needed to see an improvement in rotation quality, but he says nothing has changed. At the March picket at Delta’s home port, Atlanta, some 100 off-duty pilots protested. Delta was relatively…