Jumpseat: Airline Merger Musings

Les Abend

Wednesday, January 08, 2014 at 11:26 PM ET

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Key Takeaways:

Airline mergers, while appearing superficial to the traveling public, create profound and complex challenges for pilots, primarily due to the intricate and non-transferable nature of seniority that governs their entire career.
Integrating two pilot groups involves difficult negotiations to merge seniority lists, harmonize disparate training programs, operational procedures, and IT systems, while also mitigating career expectation damage and ensuring safety.
Beyond operational aspects, mergers necessitate consolidating diverse labor contracts, pension responsibilities, and employee benefits, as well as blending distinct corporate cultures, leading to significant uniformity and morale challenges.

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The embossed certificate I received as a 6-year-old boy after climbing aboard a Lockheed Electra for my first airline flight is a cherished possession. Not only did the certificate record that memorable moment, but it also promised a pilot interview 20 years later. Although I hedged my bets by interviewing with other companies, no other airline really existed for me. After 29 years of employment with my dream airline, the thought of merging with another carrier is foreign to my psyche.

But it appears that I will soon face a new reality. A merger with my airline may have already occurred by the time you read this column.