Pilots at American Eagle have reached a deal with employers designed to ensure job security should the carrier be spun off into a separate entity by owner AMR Corporation.

AMR yesterday announced the carrier – which ferries passengers to American Airlines hub airports – could be spun off in order to allow it to grow and become more competitive.

Ahead of such a move pilots, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), reached an agreement with American Eagle and American Airlines that will provide all Eagle pilots the opportunity to be hired by American Airlines in the future.

The job progression and protection agreement is the most significant of eight recent agreements between ALPA and American Eagle.

“Regardless of American Eagle’s ownership status, we remain committed to protecting pilot jobs and career aspirations,” said captain Anthony Gutierrez, chairman of the Eagle unit of ALPA.

In addition to providing job protection and career progression for American Eagle pilots, this agreement provides American Eagle with the ability to control pilot longevity over a significant period of time, while simultaneously providing pilot recruitment and retention tools.

In turn, American Airlines receives a guaranteed inflow of qualified pilots who have considerable tenure in the AA system, while helping to ensure proven, stable, and long-term market rate feed.

“The American Eagle pilots have proven time and time again that they are capable of being effective partners in the success of their airline so long as management keeps the needs of its employees central among its business goals,” Gutierrez said.

Under this agreement, American Eagle pilots will occupy a minimum of 35 per cent of every American Airlines new hire class and that percentage will increase to offset any potential periods of retraction.

ALPA represents more than 53,000 pilots at 39 airlines in the United States and Canada, including 3,000 at American Eagle. American Airlines pilots are represented by the Allied Pilots Association.

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