Pilots flying for Amazon Air and DHL through contracted carriers Atlas Air, Southern Air, and ABX Air are set to protest at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) today.
The union, Airline Professionals Association (APA), Teamsters Local 1224, which represents the pilots, said they are to “raise alarm about their carriers’ futures and stalled contract negotiations that are creating serious working condition issues”.
CVG is the largest hub for each of the carriers. Atlas Air and Southern Air are owned by Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings (AAAW). ABX Air is a subsidiary of Air Transport Services Group.
Pilots are set to carry signs that read “AAWW + ABX Air Pilots: Overworked, underpaid & exploited. It’s just plane wrong,” and “Poor management, awful retention & low morale: Now AAWW investors are paying the price”.
Pilots at the three carriers have been in negotiations to settle an industry-standard contract for multiple years and have been speaking out about the operational problems that are exacerbated by sub-standard labour contracts.
Teamsters Local 1224, said according to data from AAWW, the airline’s prolonged delays have increased by 70 per cent since December 2016.
Amazon broke ground in May on a new $1.5 billion hub at CVG. It plans to open the facility in 2021.
