Pilots Oppose US Airways Jet Sale

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (TheStreet) -- US Airways(LCC Quote) says it will sell 10 of its 25 Embraer190s, a move that is meeting resistance from pilots who say the carrier is already below agreed-upon flying-time levels.

In a letter to employees on Friday, airline President Scott Kirby said a deal to sell the 10 aircraft to an unnamed carrier is close. The move "will reduce flying and have an impact on staffing levels in a number of employee groups and locations," he said.

"Even though the airline industry is beginning to see improvement in the business environment, our industry is a long way from returning to sustainable profitability," Kirby wrote. "The revenue environment remains challenging and the E-190 capacity presents the only flexibility we have to further reduce capacity to right size supply with demand."

James Ray, spokesman for the U.S. Airline Pilots Association, said a transition agreement signed after the 2005 merger with America West guarantees minimum flying time until a joint pilot contract is signed. Pilots have already filed a grievance alleging that the airline is below the minimum flying time requirement.

"If we win, they would have to pay pilots to stay home or else add flying to comply," Ray said. "Getting rid of more aircraft would exacerbate the problem."

Crews for the 190 are based in Charlotte and Philadelphia. Ray said 100 to 120 pilots staff 10 aircraft. Mike Flores, president of the US Airways chapter of the Association of Flight Attendants, said that while 150 flight attendants also fly the E190, involuntary flight attendant layoffs are unlikely. "We now have about 100 flight attendants on voluntary furlough, which ends in December, and 200 applied," he said. "So the math doesn't add up to (layoffs)."