Connect Airlines, which wants to use turboprops to connect Toronto with major cities in the United States, is looking to receive regulatory approvals to start operations. However, the business the carrier is looking to establish has drawn the scrutiny of the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), which has aired some concerns over what Connect Airlines is planning. The airline has issued a response, though ALPA is looking for more.
Connect Airlines discusses its strategy
Broadly, ALPA is concerned about the possibility of Connect Airlines, which initially plans to connect several cities in the United States to Toronto, hiring Canadian crew and later using those crew at a reduced pay structure to operate flights in the US. Connect Airlines is sticking to its plan to focus its initial operations on connecting East Coast US destinations to Toronto, but it offered some more details on what it is looking to do.
First off, Connect has reaffirmed that it is a US-based airline. Waltzing Matilda Aviation would be the parent company of Connect, and it is based in Bedford, Massachusetts. It is also looking to conduct maintenance for its Q400 turboprops at Philadelphia International Airport (PHL). Connect Airlines states that it has already signed a lease for the facility.
In the future, Connect Airlines envisions broadening its route network that may include domestic flights. It states that it is actively hiring and training US-based crews. Nodding to concerns ALPA has about pilot salaries, it is looking at a pay scale of captains and first officers that is “comparable to pay offered by other similarly situated airlines, to include US regional airlines.”
ALPA responds
ALPA filed a response with the Department of Transportation (DOT) to the information provided by Connect Airlines. That filing mainly contends with some procedural issues that Connect raised. ALPA did not issue a formal response to the further information the airline provided, stating it is waiting for the DOT to make a ruling on ALPA’s request for additional information and documentation.
ALPA is essentially looking for DOT support for more information on Connect Airlines to become public. As a union for pilots, it is looking to protect the wages and benefits it has fought for with various airlines in the US and seek to minimize outsourcing of jobs. It is worried Connect Airlines is looking to do.
Where things go from here
Both ALPA and Connect Airlines are waiting for a judgment from the DOT. The DOT’s teams will review all of the information furnished by both parties and make a decision. The DOT may decide it needs a little more information before making a final decision. Conversely, it could find that the concerns of ALPA have already been addressed or else are not worthy of further review.
Connect Airlines continues to move forward. A spokesperson for the airline provided the following statement from CEO John Thomas:
“Waltzing Matilda Aviation continues its progress towards certification as a US 121 regularly scheduled air operator. We are progressing well and working closely with the FAA and the Department of Transportation to prove our air worthiness as a safe and reliable operator. We look forward to our certification and to serving travelers who value safety and new connectivity to underserved markets.”
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