After decrying the proposed sale of American Eagle by parent-company AMR Corp., American Airline’s pilots are demanding they be the only ones allowed to fly for American, regardless of the future ownership of the regional carrier. The proposal, made last week, has far-reaching impacts on American as it would curtail all code-sharing flights, including those with international carriers, the company now has as well as contracts with other regionals who fly as American Connections.
"All flying performed by or on behalf of the company or an affiliate shall be performed by pilots on the American Airlines seniority list in accordance with the terms and conditions of this agreement," said the proposal. For its part, American said that such a proposal would weaken an othewise strong network.
The scope clause, hammered out in the 1980s, paved the way for the creation of American Eagle and the union said changes in the regional carrier – jets and longer routes – are not what the union envisioned at the inception of code-sharing networks – short-haul feeder connecting service. The contract works for mainline pilots in that it allows them to fly for Eagle in the event of layoffs but it also gives Eagle pilots, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association which also objects to the proposed sale, priority in American Airlines hiring. An attempt to resolve conflicts between pilots and American failed recently after the regional carrier asked mainline pilots to allow it to acquire 25 70-seat regional jets.