Another Furlough in United Airlines! by Milota Sidorova

In between terrific news about another crashed plane that reached out the lucky number seven during the past month, today I wanna talk about airplanes, however from another point of view.

Declared as an indispensable step to carry on with the rivals in one of the most discussed world's environments, United Airlines said on Wednesday it will furlough 1,550 flight attendants as it reduces its flying this fall.




Nevertheless, it's not the only reduction in American airplane transport so far. Just weeks ago, we've heard of American Airlines, intending to drop over nine hundreds of attendants, pilots, managers and front-line workers. Despite of discussion with the Departments, the firing was unavoidable.

United Airlines, the mayor American airline company, settling down in Chicago, Illinois has been familiar with striking its up and down times. For brief revision let's just assume the most important milestones here. United Airlines, founded in 1926 as Boeing Air Transport has been always innovative and pro-expanding company. Soon it became the biggest national airline and in 1991 it finally got the green light from UK company to fly directly Chicago-London's Heathrow. United Airlines was also the first company landing in Vietnam since the Vietnam War. It has created several alliances, for example 1998 the Star Alliance along with Air Canada, Lufthansa, SAS and Thai Airways.

Sour times and the following almost bankrupt hit United Airlines on September 11th, when two of its Boeings ( 757, 767) had been hijacked by al-Quaeda and the rest is...But we know all about that.

Facts tell us that after September 11, the company lost $2.14 billion in 2001 on revenues of $16.14 billion. Followed with massive national crisis 2002, company strike the same conditions as today.




However, it has taken its time to overcome 'terroristic panic' in U.S.

On June 2008 the company has announced it's turning down several international flights including San Francisco-Nagoya and Chicago-Mexico City. Briefly a result of oil prices melt down, today the spokesman Jeff Kovick can refer to roughly 10 percent furloughs of United's cabin workers.




More than seven thousands should be recalled by the end of 2009, among them more than 1,600 managers, 5,500 front-line workers and 950 pilots. Naturally before the narrative cut off, they will be free to leave voluntarily and save their benefits such insurance and flight privileges.

The first 1,500 will have to seek for a job before October 31.




However, this time, United will need more than personal innovation to hold its positions. According several press polls, people are getting scared of flying. It's almost every week, we can hear of an airplane crashed down. Last time it was Ryan Air that prides itself of being the most secure budget company in Europe, forced to land during the flight. Last year I have listened that almost 300 airplanes from former Soviet Union had been forbidden to fly because of technical condition. However, the committee didn't say a word against European nor American air companies.

So the question remains, whether they had been checking also the western part of the planet.

Personally I don't prefer flying in planes with black holes inside of it.





related story: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap_travel/20080828/ap_tr_ge/travel_brief_united_flight_attendants;_ylt=Ah.cIHnMgyaO12ySA54.C9.s0NUE

by Milota Sidorova for PocketNews (http://pocketnews.tv)

PocketNews is a new real-time news broadcaster delivering the latest and hottest news right to your pocket ! With global clients who want to be kept up to date, PocketNews is everyone's way of keeping in touch with the World.<br><br><font size=2>These news are original content from young talents around the world and are selected for you by Chris Cantell.</font><br>


posted by Lucia Adamova