American Airlines will accelerate the retirement of its Boeing 757 and 767 fleets (and won't have reason to extend service of their Embraer E-190s). They're cutting flights, including much of Europe and even some service to London. And they're promising that actual quarantined employees won't be fired for taking sick time.
American announced a reduction in flights to Europe and South America, although I won't at all be surprised to see more routes cut back or eliminated as well.
American is accelerating the planned retirement of Boeing 757 and 767 fleets to coincide with reductions in international service.
In addition, there had been internal discussions around extending the service of Embraer E-190s, ostensibly regional jets that are part of the mainline fleet, given the grounding of the Boeing 737 MAX. I think it's safe to say that's off the table at this point.
While the 767 experience is subpar in business class with narrow Thompson Vantage seats, the aircraft is actually my favorite in the fleet for coach. While Seth Miller writes the opposite, that "it should be good news for passenger comfort" because they lack seat back entertainment screens, have "older seats, [and are] generally just not nice" I'd point out that they are still offer just 2-3-2 seating in coach which is more comfortable than 9-abreast seating on a Boeing 787 and 10-abreast on a 777, and that the planes haven't been densified, they still have more space between seats.
It also looks like (3) Airbus A330s are headed to storage.
American is postponing leadership pay increases until August. The idea that they're even talking about raises this year seems like a discussion from another planet right now.
They're freezing hiring as well as promotions and lateral moves within management for the next 60 days. They're deferring new hire classes, though there's a pilot and a maintenance new hire class that will still start next week.
They're offering "extended unpaid, voluntary leaves of absence." Speaking to a flight attendant earlier today who was grating against the idea, I suggested they look at their seniority and expect we get to the place where there are furloughs when considering this option.
American Airlines has a sick policy that employees argue forces them to come to work sick. They get 'points' towards discipline for taking sick time that they've earned. The policy was recently amended in arbitration, which the company largely lost, with respect to its flight attendants only.
The airline is telling employees that they "will not receive attendance points or occurrences, or be progressed through any discipline processes due to absences" only if they have to be quarantined by a doctor, the CDC, or a public health professional. Employees who actually test positive for COVID-19 or are quarantined will receive paid sick time.
Given fewer flights and the need for fewer employees the points and occurrences system should be suspended at this time. The point of the new policy adopted in 2018 was to ensure there were enough employees showing up to work at especially peak periods like holidays.
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