Profitability passed on to employees

Earlier this month, Delta Air Lines paid out around US$372m in profit sharing in recognition of its employees and their rôle in achieving financial and operational goals in 2012. Delta says that employees’ individual payouts will be equivalent to 6.67% of their eligible 2012 earnings.

“This year’s profit sharing payment is a reflection of the hard work and dedication Delta people have shown in delivering what our customers have come to expect – great operations and service,” stressed Delta’s CEO, Richard Anderson. “Profit sharing is not only a demonstration of appreciation for employees’ hard work in 2012, it’s an investment in improving our customer experience on Delta now and in the future.”

Government economies could impact US air travel

With the ongoing belt-tightening in the US has come the unwelcome news that up to US$1bn in spending cuts could be sought at the Transportation Department – and of this total, more than US$600m would be trimmed from the Federal Aviation Administration, the body that oversees US air travel.

On the cards could be cuts in the working week as well as the closure of air traffic control facilities in regions where flights are fewer: up to 100 might be involved in the cutbacks, it has been suggested.

The Regional Airline Association has expressed its fears over the proposals that would almost certainly lead to delays in journey times for passengers. Since the regional carriers account for around 50% of the total scheduled passenger traffic, it foresees some communities losing their only lifeline and others operating with a reduced schedule.

Searches giving cause for concern in Kansas

Some Kansas House members have voiced disapproval over pat-downs at the state’s airports, saying that the searches are getting out of hand. A bill sponsored by 21 House members would declare it illegal for Transportation Security Administration screeners to touch an airline passenger’s private parts during a search. The bill would also seek to prevent an agent from taking a child under the age of 18 away from a parent or a guardian for the purposes of conducting a further search. Kansas is joining other states in objecting to what is considered aggressive searches of people who are unlikely to be potential security threats.

 

Swissport brings job boost to Newark Liberty

The Christie Administration has launched an initiative with handler Swissport USA aimed at the employment of around 1,000 New Jersey residents for posts at Newark Liberty International airport. This is in line with the latter company opening a new cargo and baggage handling operation this spring.

Swissport USA has asked the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development to help fill the positions, giving priority consideration to people displaced by Superstorm Sandy and New Jersey’s long-term unemployed, particularly those who have been involved in clearing up after the storm.

“Swissport USA is eager to get its cargo operation up and running, so our department has moved quickly, by lining up potential hires from people withrésumés in our Jobs4Jersey.com search engine, people who joined our Jersey Job Clubs, our Talent Networks and our veteran outreach services,” explained LWD’s Commissioner, Harold J Wirths.

The available positions range from warehouse agents and cargo office agents to supervisors: prospective applicants will be expected to possess a valid driver’s license, an education certificate, a clean record and a steady work history.

“We are happy to partner with the New Jersey Department of Labor to help us find qualified individuals to staff our operations at Newark airport,” commented Gregory Reeves, Swissport USA’s Senior Vice President Human Resources.

In all, Swissport USA has been given 60 days to staff its Newark Liberty airport operation, and candidates accepted into the company’s training programs will receive pay while awaiting Federal Aviation Administration certification and background checks. Swissport USA has said that it intends to offer any staff hired the flexibility of working at two other facilities, namely at LaGuardia and JFK.

 

JetBlue enhances the check-in process

JetBlue Airways has made traveling even easier with the introduction of a mobile boarding system. Customers in eight of the airline’s largest cities are now able to download electronic boarding passes on to their cell phones using the newly re-launched version 2.0 of the JetBlue mobile app. This translates into a saving in both time and paperwork during check-in, security and the boarding process proper. Mobile Boarding Passes are now available for those traveling from Boston, Las Vegas, Fort Lauderdale, Los Angeles, San Juan, San Francisco, Orlando and New York.

Miami setting the pace in cargo

The aviation department at Miami International airport has set a new record of just over 2m short tonnes of cargo handled, which surpasses its 2007 record by more than 15,000 short tonnes. This represents an increase of 4.6%.

While the total domestic cargo tonnage for 2012 exceeded 2011’s tonnage by almost 14.5%, it fell short by about 10% when compared with 2007 figures. The airport’s total international cargo tonnage for 2012 set a new record, surpassing the tonnages of both 2011 and 2007.