Aviation News

THE union leader who warned Australians not to fly with Qantas changed his tune today after licensed engineers confirmed they had reached an agreement with the airline.

The Australian Licenced Aircraft Engineers Association became the first of three warring Qantas unions to reach a settlement after the grounding of the airline led to compulsory arbitration by Fair Work Australia.

Union national secretary Steve Purvinas said the union and Qantas would go before Fair Work Australia “hand in hand” today, meaning there was no need for the tribunal to impose its own resolution.

Mr Purvinas insisted the agreement was “a Mexican standoff” that did not favour Qantas over the ALAEA.

During the dispute Mr Purvinas threatened to “bake them slowly” and warned passengers not to book Qantas as it might be unreliable.’

“I wouldn’t have any concerns taking Qantas myself, and I can say the public should choose the airline they want with confidence for their holidays,” he said today.

He admitted the union had to give up on its claim to gain an Airbus A380 maintenance hangar in Sydney.

Mr Purvinas insisted Qantas had not taken away any job responsibilities or roles of his members, which he said were guaranteed in the agreement.

This included keeping key tasks that Qantas chief Alan Joyce said must change if the airline was to cut costs to become internationally viable.

Mr Purvinas said this included:

* The right to have licensed engineers keep conducting a visual check of every aircraft before take-off.

* Engineers retaining the right to do all maintenance work, although he admitted Qantas may still try to bring in lesser qualified A Licence employees to do basic maintenance tasks.

He said the agreement, which also gave 3 per cent pay rises a year over three years, meant there could be further problems if Qantas tried to impose A Licence employees into maintenance tasks.

He said the agreement would not stop Qantas setting up a premium Asian carrier, with the airline still negotiating with Malaysia Airlines after plans for a base in Singapore look to have fallen through.

Qantas has said the deal with the engineers will be good for the airline.

A spokesman said it did not include any of the engineers’ claims that would have restricted the airline in making changes needed to be able to compete globally.

Mr Purvinas also said federal Workplace Relations Minister Bill Shorten had played an important part in encouraging the parties to broker a deal.

But Qantas is still in dispute with the transport workers’ union, representing ground handlers and with its international pilots.

Fair Work Australia is expected to hear those cases next year.
source:  http://www.heraldsun.com.au/business/qantas-and-engineers-hand-in-hand-says-union/story-fn7j19iv-1226225652830

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Alec Baldwin, left, makes fun of the incident on "Saturday Night Live" with Seth Meyers.

(CNN) — The NBC sitcom “30 Rock” lost some flight attendant fans after actor Alec Baldwin was kicked off an American Airlines flight when he refused to turn off his phone.

The Association of Professional Flight Attendants requested Tuesday that the airline remove the show from all flights after last week’s incident at Los Angeles International Airport.

Baldwin was booted off the flight because he refused to turn off his cell phone after the plane’s doors were closed for departure, the airline said.

The actor was apparently playing “Words With Friends,” a Scrabble-like online game.

“We fully support the flight attendants and the way they handled the situation,” spokesman Jeff Pharr said. “The crew responded as they have been thoroughly trained to do so by the FAA as safety professionals onboard the aircraft.”

Pharr added that the union would retract its petition if Baldwin issued an apology to the attendants.

“30 Rock,” meanwhile, continues to air on some American Airline flights in accordance with its standard programming procedures, airline spokesman Tim Smith said.

The actor mocked American Airlines over the weekend during a cameo appearance on “Saturday Night Live,” issuing an apology to himself while dressed as airline “Capt. Steve Rogers.”

NBC declined to comment on Tuesday’s petition.

Last week’s incident prompted a flight delay and triggered a wave of comments on social media about the actor’s behavior.

source: http://edition.cnn.com

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Adventure ... Passengers prepare to sleep on camp beds

PASSENGERS accused Air Zimbabwe of abandoning them as they were forced to spend Tuesday night stranded at Gatwick airport while the airline scrambled to raise cash for the release of its impounded long-haul aircraft.

The airline’s Boeing 767-200 was impounded on landing at Gatwick Airport on Monday after American General Supplies got a court order for US$1.2 million owed for aircraft spares

Acting chief executive, Innocent Mavhunga told the state-run Herald newspaper that stranded passengers had either been rerouted or refunded and in some cases put in hotels.

But those stranded in London said the airline had refused to refund their tickets claiming it didn’t have the funds and only paid for a day’s accommodation at a local hotel.

Most said there was no warning from Air Zimbabwe and they had been shocked when advised by airport staff that the flight had been cancelled well after checking-in their luggage.

The airline’s manager for Europe and the America’s, David Mwenga hurriedly arranged overnight accommodation at a London hotel insisting the mishap would be resolved and they would be able to fly home on Tuesday.

However, come Tuesday, Mwenga was ready with another letter of apology, but this time no offer of accommodation. He told the passengers to return home and wait to be advised regarding further developments but they refused to budge demanding refunds for their tickets.

Police had to intervene as the situation threatened to get out of hand.

“We understand it’s not his fault but he should be up-front with us. He must have known there was trouble but still told people to come to Gatwick and even checked-in our luggage.

“However, we are not going anywhere. We will stay at the airport until they either secure the release of the aircraft and we proceed with our flight or they give us back our money get.”

Another passenger said airline officials were nowhere to be seen on Tuesday and Gatwick had intervened, helping with camp beds and blankets.

“But my heart goes out the mother with two restless children, the three wheel chair-bound ladies and the elderly grandparents decked out in their Sunday suits and hats!”

And as it became clear they would be spending the night at Gatwick, a pastor said prayers in hope and part of the group broke into song, asking for divine intervention. They may well need it.

“While Air Zimbabwe staff basically abandoned us, airport officials have organised food, bedding and blankets with one returning in the evening to make sure we are all right well after he had finished his shift.”

Menwhile, Mavhunga said “progress” had been made in securing the funds to pay off the debt but would not say when he expected the plane to be released.

“We are still mobilising the resources and we have made significant progress though I am not at liberty to divulge what we have,” he said.

source: http://www.newzimbabwe.com

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