How Unionism Has Impacted the Airline Industry in Us
How unionism has impacted the Airline industry in US
Penn State Harrisburg
Abstract In the wake of a sizable slump in demand driven by economic downturns, terrorism attacks (especially the events of September 11, 2001) as well as increased competition from low-cost carriers, many incumbent U.S. airlines have been attempting a fundamental restructuring of their operations. Many would argue that a central element in this restructuring should include an overhaul of the labor-management relationship. This paper presents information regarding labor unions in the airline industry of the US, in order to analyze and then summarize main points of how they have impacted and affected this industry overall.
1. Overview of the air transportation sector
In spite of many challenges, air travel remains one of the most popular transportation mean in the United States, expanding from 172 million passengers in 1970 to 757 million passengers in 20081 (Bureau labor of statistics, 2000). There were at that time, 19 mainline air carriers that use large passenger jets (more than 90 seats); 67 regional carriers that use smaller piston, turboprop, and regional aircraft (up to 90 seats); and 23 all-cargo carriers1 (Bureau labor of statistics, 2000). Mainline carriers are represented by network carriers, which have their own "hubs” which serve in the most efficient manner the greatest number of passengers and by low-cost carriers, which generally don 't have a hub and only offer flights between a limited number of cities. Another type of passenger airline is the regional carrier, that operates short-haul and medium-haul scheduled airline service and connects smaller communities with larger cities and hubs. Cargo can be carried in cargo holds of passenger airlines or on aircraft designed exclusively to carry freight. Cargo carriers in the air transportation industry provide only air transport from an airport near the cargo 's origin to an airport near the cargo 's
Penn State Harrisburg
Abstract In the wake of a sizable slump in demand driven by economic downturns, terrorism attacks (especially the events of September 11, 2001) as well as increased competition from low-cost carriers, many incumbent U.S. airlines have been attempting a fundamental restructuring of their operations. Many would argue that a central element in this restructuring should include an overhaul of the labor-management relationship. This paper presents information regarding labor unions in the airline industry of the US, in order to analyze and then summarize main points of how they have impacted and affected this industry overall.
1. Overview of the air transportation sector
In spite of many challenges, air travel remains one of the most popular transportation mean in the United States, expanding from 172 million passengers in 1970 to 757 million passengers in 20081 (Bureau labor of statistics, 2000). There were at that time, 19 mainline air carriers that use large passenger jets (more than 90 seats); 67 regional carriers that use smaller piston, turboprop, and regional aircraft (up to 90 seats); and 23 all-cargo carriers1 (Bureau labor of statistics, 2000). Mainline carriers are represented by network carriers, which have their own "hubs” which serve in the most efficient manner the greatest number of passengers and by low-cost carriers, which generally don 't have a hub and only offer flights between a limited number of cities. Another type of passenger airline is the regional carrier, that operates short-haul and medium-haul scheduled airline service and connects smaller communities with larger cities and hubs. Cargo can be carried in cargo holds of passenger airlines or on aircraft designed exclusively to carry freight. Cargo carriers in the air transportation industry provide only air transport from an airport near the cargo 's origin to an airport near the cargo 's
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