Airline Division Week In Review - October 11, 2014

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Piedmont Stock Clerk Negotiations Update  Stock Clerk negotiations resumed on October 9th, 2014 with the Union presented proposals on Article 21 (Moving Expenses) and Article 14 (Vacation). After discussion, both articles were tentatively agreed to.  The Union also presented a comprehensive economic proposal to the company that they have requested time to study and respond to.  A new date has not yet been set for the next meeting.  Piedmont Mechanics Negotiations Update    Negotiations that were scheduled to resume on Tuesday, October 7th, 2014 were cancelled because of the Company’s lead negotiators illness and was inability to attend at the last minute.    The Union negotiating team; already assembled used the time to work with the IBT economist to review the current positions and plan for future sessions    Once new dates are scheduled, the membership will be notified. Airline Industry News Governmental and Regulatory      The Federal Aviation Administration announced the Chicago air traffic control center that was closed due to fire damage will open on Sunday. "FAA technical teams will complete equipment and system testing over the next few days at Chicago Center and conduct flight checks before they fully restore and connect the telecommunications network and other services at the facility," the FAA said.   The Federal Aviation Administration and the NextGen Advisory Committee, a group of stakeholders from the aviation industry, have agreed to a plan outlining priorities for NextGen over the next three years.   Federal Aviation Administration Administrator Michael Huerta says the agency doesn't havetechnology in place to seamlessly take over air traffic control functions from an inoperable regional facility. "The current backup plan for the agency is to get everyone on the ground safe and get them to their destinations safe," he said. Airlines, Industry and Labor  Alaska Airlines and the Association of Flight Attendants have tentatively agreed on a new five-year contract for the airline's 3,300 flight attendants. If union officials approve the proposed contract, a ratification vote will be taken by the flight attendants in December.   The nation's largest flight attendants union says it wants airline passengers to return to stowing cell phones and other electronics during takeoffs and landings, but the group's arguments didn't seem to fly Friday in court.  American Airlines Group said it forecasts an operating margin of up to 12% for the third quarter. By the end of 2014, the carrier also expects to have 1,540 aircraft in its fleet.   Modest profitability has enabled airlines to accelerate investment, to the tune of $1 billion per month, in people, products and technology to enhance the travel experience. Robert Stallard, an analyst for RBC Capital Markets, expects carriers to continue buying fuel-efficient aircraft to update fleets.   American Airlines is further shrinking regional subsidiary Envoy Air by shifting some of its Miami flights to operators with bigger planes.  Boeing Co. predicts that the market for global air freight will double over the next 20 years. "We see strong signs of a recovery as air-freight traffic levels continue to strengthen after several years of stagnation," said Randy Tinseth, vice president of marketing for the carrier.   Airbus has patented advanced digital sonic technology that could be deployed to frighten away birds from aircraft. The Federal Aviation Administration has estimated that bird strikes cost $957 million a year.  Boeing Co. announced plans to expand its defense facility in St. Louis to build composite aircraft parts for the 777X. Mo. Gov. Jay Nixon said the decision will add up to 700 jobs in the region. Boeing now employs around 15,000 people in St. Louis.