United to recall 300 pilots in 2006

Airline Industry Information, Oct 13, 2005

AIRLINE INDUSTRY INFORMATION-(C)1997-2005 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD

About 300 pilots will be recalled, United Airlines has said, to meet an expected increase in flying.

The airline has said it will recall the pilots to meet an expected rise in demand for flights next year, as the airline exits bankruptcy. The number will be about a sixth of the pilots still on layoff and will add about 5% to the total workforce of pilots for the airline, The Associated Press reported.

ALPA, the Air Line Pilots Association, said that it was pleased with the recall, saying that the more and the sooner pilots are recalled, the better. The airline expects to exceed the total of 300 recalls in 2006 once military leaves and other factors are accounted for, the senior vice president for flight operations Steve Forte said.

The first set of recalled pilots will return to work on 9 January.

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